Cost of Living Comparison Between Barnstable, MA and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Barnstable, MA and New York, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,354 in Barnstable, MA versus $4,878 in New York, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,517 in Barnstable, MA versus $7,262 in New York, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,680 in Barnstable, MA versus $9,645 in New York, NY.

Living in Barnstable, MA costs roughly 52% less than in New York, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barnstable, MA 71% above, New York, NY 255% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.04 $18.04

$25.20 $25.20

-28.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.8 $75.8

$150 $150

-49.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.03 $10.03

$13.98 $13.98

-28.25%

Cappuccino

$3.94 $3.94

$6.39 $6.39

-38.34%

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

$2.20 $2.20

$4.01 $4.01

-45.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.91 $2.91

-43.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.95 $4.95

$8.01 $8.01

-38.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.94 $6.94

$9.94 $9.94

-30.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.33 $1.33

-18.05%

White Bread (500g)

$2.94 $2.94

$4.80 $4.80

-38.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$6.81 $6.81

-38.03%

Eggs

$4.17 $4.17

$5.67 $5.67

-26.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 $6.41

$16.66 $16.66

-61.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.61 $8.61

$14.82 $14.82

-41.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.79 $8.79

$18.90 $18.90

-53.49%

Apples (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$6.03 $6.03

-31.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.16 $2.16

-20.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.67 $5.67

-20.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.54 $3.54

$6.07 $6.07

-41.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$3.49 $3.49

-38.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$4.14 $4.14

-48.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.67 $2.67

-25.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.56 $2.56

-1.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.47 $12.47

$19.04 $19.04

-34.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.10 $13.10

$19.73 $19.73

-33.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$3.30 $3.30

-34.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.97 $3.97

2.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.99 $2.99

-31.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.13 $35.13

$140 $140

-74.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.94 $2.94

19.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.56 $3.56

$2.12 $2.12

67.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.33 $26.33

$41.24 $41.24

-36.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.11 $1.11

-14.41%

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

$37.3K $37.3K

$35.2K $35.2K

5.99%

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

$23.6K $23.6K

$25.2K $25.2K

-6.26%

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

$98.1 $98.1

$218 $218

-55.00%

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

$59.1 $59.1

$76.5 $76.5

-22.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 $64.8

$76.0 $76.0

-14.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.02 $41.02

$128 $128

-67.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.54 $23.54

$63.2 $63.2

-62.76%

Cinema Ticket

$13.81 $13.81

$23.94 $23.94

-42.31%

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

$1,827 $1,827

$3,313 $3,313

-44.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.5K $30.5K

$60.8K $60.8K

-49.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 $56.3

$74.0 $74.0

-23.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.67 $37.67

$56.3 $56.3

-33.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.2 $81.2

$116 $116

-30.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.5 $99.5

$130 $130

-23.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$4,391 $4,391

-63.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,269 $1,269

$3,088 $3,088

-58.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,489 $2,489

$9,291 $9,291

-73.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,148 $2,148

$5,460 $5,460

-60.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,720 $2,720

$19.3K $19.3K

-85.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,405 $2,405

$6,723 $6,723

-64.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,709 $4,709

$5,364 $5,364

-12.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.04

6.43

-6.07%

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

Last update for Barnstable, MA: August 31, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,590 in Barnstable, MA and $4,391 in New York, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 14% 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: $76.0 in Barnstable, MA vs $150 in New York, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $323 vs $512 per month, with Barnstable, MA 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

Barnstable, MA vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barnstable, MA and New York, NY differ by about 107% in total monthly costs ($2,354 vs $4,878 including rent). Barnstable, MA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 14% 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: $1,590 in Barnstable, MA versus $4,391 in New York, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Barnstable, MA runs roughly 299% less than in New York, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,827 in Barnstable, MA versus $3,313 in New York, NY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,354 in Barnstable, MA versus $4,878 in New York, NY, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barnstable, MA but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Barnstable, MA 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 Barnstable, MA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 107% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.