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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,165 in Ankeny, IA versus $4,852 in New York, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,218 in Ankeny, IA versus $7,370 in New York, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,271 in Ankeny, IA versus $9,889 in New York, NY.

Living in Ankeny, IA costs roughly 55% less than in New York, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ankeny, IA 57% above, New York, NY 252% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.06 $20.06

$25.42 $25.42

-21.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.3 $80.3

$142 $142

-43.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$13.97 $13.97

-15.10%

Cappuccino

$5.98 $5.98

$6.42 $6.42

-6.85%

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

$3.04 $3.04

$3.91 $3.91

-22.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.96 $2.96

-13.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.96 $4.96

$7.83 $7.83

-36.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 $5.91

$9.86 $9.86

-40.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.33 $1.33

-8.27%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 $2.88

$4.73 $4.73

-39.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$6.89 $6.89

-52.83%

Eggs

$4.03 $4.03

$5.63 $5.63

-28.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 $9.69

$17.39 $17.39

-44.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.48 $9.48

$15.02 $15.02

-36.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.66 $13.66

$17.97 $17.97

-23.98%

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$6.02 $6.02

-28.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.15 $2.15

-31.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$5.89 $5.89

-24.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.70 $3.70

$6.21 $6.21

-40.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$3.40 $3.40

-43.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 $2.62

$4.26 $4.26

-38.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.67 $2.67

-12.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 $0.66

$2.43 $2.43

-72.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.08 $8.08

$18.70 $18.70

-56.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.77 $14.77

$19.72 $19.72

-25.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$3.24 $3.24

-47.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$3.91 $3.91

-43.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$139 $139

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.03 $3.03

-35.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 $1.20

$2.22 $2.22

-45.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.95 $19.95

$41.33 $41.33

-51.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.08 $1.08

-17.59%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$35.3K $35.3K

-0.38%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$25.0K $25.0K

-2.38%

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

$204 $204

$236 $236

-13.74%

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

$66.4 $66.4

$73.5 $73.5

-9.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.5 $70.5

$76.1 $76.1

-7.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.6 $73.6

$128 $128

-42.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.5 $63.5

Cinema Ticket

$14.95 $14.95

$23.19 $23.19

-35.53%

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

$1,167 $1,167

$3,340 $3,340

-65.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K $11.7K

$59.9K $59.9K

-80.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 $59.7

$72.8 $72.8

-18.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.38 $43.38

$54.1 $54.1

-19.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$119 $119

-12.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$126 $126

15.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$954 $954

$4,467 $4,467

-78.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$906 $906

$2,988 $2,988

-69.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,842 $1,842

$9,222 $9,222

-80.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 $1,414

$5,537 $5,537

-74.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.9K $18.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,621 $6,621

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,222 $5,222

$5,327 $5,327

-1.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.03

6.49

-7.09%

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

Last update for Ankeny, IA: September 7, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $954 in Ankeny, IA and $4,467 in New York, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 2% 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: $80.0 in Ankeny, IA vs $142 in New York, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $325 vs $512 per month, with Ankeny, IA 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

Ankeny, IA vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ankeny, IA and New York, NY differ by about 124% in total monthly costs ($2,165 vs $4,852 including rent). Ankeny, IA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 2% 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: $954 in Ankeny, IA versus $4,467 in New York, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 57% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,165 per month in Ankeny, IA versus $4,852 in New York, NY – a 124% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,165 in Ankeny, IA versus $4,852 in New York, NY, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Ankeny, IA but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Ankeny, IA 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.

Safety-wise, Ankeny, IA and New York, NY are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ankeny, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 124% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.