Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen County, NJ and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen County, NJ and New York, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,259 in Bergen County, NJ versus $4,878 in New York, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,407 in Bergen County, NJ versus $7,262 in New York, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,555 in Bergen County, NJ versus $9,645 in New York, NY.

Living in Bergen County, NJ costs roughly 13% less than in New York, NY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bergen County, NJ 210% above, New York, NY 255% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.15 $22.15

$25.20 $25.20

-12.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.8 $83.8

$150 $150

-44.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.57 $12.57

$13.98 $13.98

-10.09%

Cappuccino

$5.30 $5.30

$6.39 $6.39

-17.06%

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

$3.02 $3.02

$4.01 $4.01

-24.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.91 $2.91

-23.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.86 $7.86

$8.01 $8.01

-1.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.03 $8.03

$9.94 $9.94

-19.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.33 $1.33

6.02%

White Bread (500g)

$4.52 $4.52

$4.80 $4.80

-5.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.68 $8.68

$6.81 $6.81

27.46%

Eggs

$5.29 $5.29

$5.67 $5.67

-6.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.52 $12.52

$16.66 $16.66

-24.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.65 $11.65

$14.82 $14.82

-21.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.38 $17.38

$18.90 $18.90

-8.04%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$6.03 $6.03

-10.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.16 $2.16

-21.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.03 $5.03

$5.67 $5.67

-11.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 $5.08

$6.07 $6.07

-16.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.49 $3.49

-20.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$4.14 $4.14

-23.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.67 $2.67

-10.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.56 $2.56

-3.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.15 $13.15

$19.04 $19.04

-30.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.64 $23.64

$19.73 $19.73

19.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$3.30 $3.30

-47.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 $4.44

$3.97 $3.97

11.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.14 $4.14

$2.99 $2.99

38.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$168 $168

$140 $140

19.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.94 $2.94

-8.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.12 $2.12

-27.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.59 $23.59

$41.24 $41.24

-42.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.11 $1.11

-4.50%

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

$36.7K $36.7K

$35.2K $35.2K

4.22%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$25.2K $25.2K

-0.64%

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

$207 $207

$218 $218

-5.20%

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

$77.1 $77.1

$76.5 $76.5

0.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 $67.5

$76.0 $76.0

-11.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$101 $101

$128 $128

-21.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$49.77 $49.77

$63.2 $63.2

-21.26%

Cinema Ticket

$14.88 $14.88

$23.94 $23.94

-37.84%

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

$2,257 $2,257

$3,313 $3,313

-31.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K $23.8K

$60.8K $60.8K

-60.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.41 $49.41

$74.0 $74.0

-33.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.40 $46.40

$56.3 $56.3

-17.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 $79.7

$116 $116

-31.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 $150

$130 $130

15.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,729 $2,729

$4,391 $4,391

-37.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,678 $2,678

$3,088 $3,088

-13.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,703 $4,703

$9,291 $9,291

-49.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,956 $2,956

$5,460 $5,460

-45.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,914 $3,914

$19.3K $19.3K

-79.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,785 $3,785

$6,723 $6,723

-43.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,352 $5,352

$5,364 $5,364

-0.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.16

6.43

-4.20%

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

Last update for Bergen County, NJ: August 31, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,729 in Bergen County, NJ and $4,391 in New York, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 0% 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: $84.0 in Bergen County, NJ vs $150 in New York, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $464 vs $512 per month, with Bergen County, NJ 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

Bergen County, NJ vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bergen County, NJ and New York, NY differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($4,259 vs $4,878 including rent). Bergen County, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 0% 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: $2,729 in Bergen County, NJ 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 Bergen County, NJ – a meal for two runs $84.0 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 $4,259 per month in Bergen County, NJ versus $4,878 in New York, NY – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $5,000. Bergen County, NJ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Bergen County, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.