Cost of Living Comparison Between Ames, IA and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Ames, IA and New York, NY

🙂 Solo nomad: Ames, IA is 29.3% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 53.4% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Ames, IA is 40% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 56.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.07 $18.07

$29.68 $29.68

-39.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.34 $44.34

$144 $144

-69.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.04 $9.04

$12.43 $12.43

-27.27%

Cappuccino

$5.27 $5.27

$5.84 $5.84

-9.76%

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

$1.95 $1.95

$3.26 $3.26

-40.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.58 $2.58

-32.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 $2.99

$8.24 $8.24

-63.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.94 $6.94

$11.86 $11.86

-41.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.56 $1.56

-35.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.65 $3.65

$5.23 $5.23

-30.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$8.11 $8.11

-61.65%

Eggs

$3.29 $3.29

$7.25 $7.25

-54.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.44 $9.44

$17.08 $17.08

-44.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.6 $11.6

$16.24 $16.24

-28.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.09 $14.09

$20.02 $20.02

-29.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$7.49 $7.49

-32.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 $1.15

$2.55 $2.55

-54.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$5.82 $5.82

-0.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.1 $5.1

$6.52 $6.52

-21.78%

Potato (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$3.72 $3.72

1.08%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.9 $3.9

-3.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$3.07 $3.07

-35.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.57 $2.57

-23.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9 $9

$19.21 $19.21

-53.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.23 $16.23

$17.79 $17.79

-8.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$3.01 $3.01

-43.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.72 $3.72

17.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.92 $2.92

-48.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.13 $47.13

$134 $134

-64.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.9 $4.9

$5.13 $5.13

-4.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.15 $2.15

-35.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.16 $49.16

$41.57 $41.57

18.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.8 $0.8

$0.95 $0.95

-15.79%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$35K $35K

-29.49%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$27.7K $27.7K

-7.86%

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

$189 $189

$179 $179

5.84%

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

$48.48 $48.48

$60 $60

-19.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$63.8 $63.8

16.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.5 $68.5

$141 $141

-51.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.74 $19.74

$63.9 $63.9

-69.11%

Cinema Ticket

$13.9 $13.9

$19.9 $19.9

-30.15%

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

$1,470 $1,470

$3,206 $3,206

-54.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.2K $30.2K

$56.5K $56.5K

-46.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.64 $38.64

$65.7 $65.7

-41.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.65 $42.65

$48.75 $48.75

-12.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 $84.4

$111 $111

-24.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$172 $172

-32.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$989 $989

$4,165 $4,165

-76.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$837 $837

$2,653 $2,653

-68.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$8,412 $8,412

-77.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,676 $1,676

$5,277 $5,277

-68.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,346 $2,346

$15.6K $15.6K

-84.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,182 $2,182

$11.2K $11.2K

-80.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,732 $3,732

$5,616 $5,616

-33.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.02

6.44

-6.52%

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

Last update for Ames, IA: October 28, 2025

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

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