Cost of Living Comparison Between Abilene, TX and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Abilene, TX and New York, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,147 in Abilene, TX versus $4,878 in New York, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,175 in Abilene, TX versus $7,262 in New York, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,202 in Abilene, TX versus $9,645 in New York, NY.

Living in Abilene, TX costs roughly 56% less than in New York, NY, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Abilene, TX 56% above, New York, NY 255% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.79 $17.79

$25.20 $25.20

-29.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.2 $59.2

$150 $150

-60.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.85 $8.85

$13.98 $13.98

-36.70%

Cappuccino

$4.99 $4.99

$6.39 $6.39

-21.91%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$4.01 $4.01

-40.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.91 $2.91

-36.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.93 $4.93

$8.01 $8.01

-38.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.96 $8.96

$9.94 $9.94

-9.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.33 $1.33

-23.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.32 $3.32

$4.80 $4.80

-30.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 $2.20

$6.81 $6.81

-67.69%

Eggs

$3.69 $3.69

$5.67 $5.67

-34.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.72 $11.72

$16.66 $16.66

-29.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.11 $13.11

$14.82 $14.82

-11.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.31 $14.31

$18.90 $18.90

-24.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$6.03 $6.03

-44.61%

Banana (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.16 $2.16

36.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.62 $4.62

$5.67 $5.67

-18.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$6.07 $6.07

-14.00%

Potato (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$3.49 $3.49

21.20%

Onion (1kg)

$3.63 $3.63

$4.14 $4.14

-12.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.67 $2.67

-9.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.56 $2.56

-23.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.64 $7.64

$19.04 $19.04

-59.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.34 $11.34

$19.73 $19.73

-42.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.30 $3.30

-23.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$3.97 $3.97

1.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.99 $2.99

-42.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.5 $53.5

$140 $140

-61.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 $2.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.24 $41.24

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.11 $1.11

-24.32%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.3K $19.3K

$35.2K $35.2K

-45.08%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.2K $25.2K

3.02%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$164 $164

$218 $218

-24.88%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$69.2 $69.2

$76.5 $76.5

-9.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 $63.4

$76.0 $76.0

-16.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.88 $19.88

$128 $128

-84.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.2 $63.2

Cinema Ticket

$11.93 $11.93

$23.94 $23.94

-50.17%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,744 $1,744

$3,313 $3,313

-47.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$60.8K $60.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.06 $42.06

$74.0 $74.0

-43.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.97 $28.97

$56.3 $56.3

-48.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$116 $116

-13.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$130 $130

-22.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,167 $1,167

$4,391 $4,391

-73.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$959 $959

$3,088 $3,088

-68.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,845 $1,845

$9,291 $9,291

-80.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$5,460 $5,460

-71.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,705 $1,705

$19.3K $19.3K

-91.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,671 $1,671

$6,723 $6,723

-75.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,321 $3,321

$5,364 $5,364

-38.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

6.43

-5.13%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Abilene, TX: August 30, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,167 in Abilene, TX and $4,391 in New York, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 62% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $59.0 in Abilene, TX vs $150 in New York, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $386 vs $512 per month, with Abilene, TX cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Abilene, TX vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abilene, TX and New York, NY differ by about 127% in total monthly costs ($2,147 vs $4,878 including rent). Abilene, TX is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 62% lower in New York, NY. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,167 in Abilene, TX versus $4,391 in New York, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Abilene, TX – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $150 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,147 per month in Abilene, TX versus $4,878 in New York, NY – a 127% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,147 in Abilene, TX versus $4,878 in New York, NY, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Abilene, TX but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Abilene, TX the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Abilene, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 127% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.