Cost of Living Comparison Between Berkeley, CA and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Berkeley, CA and New York, NY

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Berkeley, CA is 24.5% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 11.1% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Berkeley, CA is 12.2% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 23.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berkeley, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.11 $22.11
$29.68 $29.68
-25.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$144 $144
-30.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.34 $11.34
$12.43 $12.43
-8.77%
Cappuccino
$5.96 $5.96
$5.84 $5.84
2.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$3.26 $3.26
-0.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.58 $2.58
-0.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$8.24 $8.24
-5.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.18 $9.18
$11.86 $11.86
-22.60%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Berkeley, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.56 $1.56
-3.21%
White Bread (500g)
$4.84 $4.84
$5.23 $5.23
-7.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.4 $6.4
$8.11 $8.11
-21.09%
Eggs
$4.99 $4.99
$7.25 $7.25
-31.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.54 $21.54
$17.08 $17.08
26.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.24 $15.24
$16.24 $16.24
-6.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.02 $23.02
$20.02 $20.02
14.99%
Apples (1kg)
$6.21 $6.21
$7.49 $7.49
-17.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.69 $2.69
$2.55 $2.55
5.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.94 $4.94
$5.82 $5.82
-15.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.94 $6.94
$6.52 $6.52
6.44%
Potato (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$3.72 $3.72
-2.69%
Onion (1kg)
$3.99 $3.99
$3.9 $3.9
2.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.88 $2.88
$3.07 $3.07
-6.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.57 $2.57
7.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.23 $12.23
$19.21 $19.21
-36.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.64 $17.64
$17.79 $17.79
-0.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$3.01 $3.01
-21.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$3.72 $3.72
-12.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Berkeley, CA
New York, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.92 $2.92
-12.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86.2 $86.2
$134 $134
-35.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 $3.57
$5.13 $5.13
-30.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.15 $2.15
-9.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.55 $29.55
$41.57 $41.57
-28.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$0.95 $0.95
33.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$35K $35K
-13.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$27.7K $27.7K
-2.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berkeley, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$220 $220
$179 $179
23.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.14 $48.14
$60 $60
-19.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67 $67
$63.8 $63.8
5.03%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Berkeley, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.7 $69.7
$141 $141
-50.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.19 $7.19
$63.9 $63.9
-88.75%
Cinema Ticket
$15.54 $15.54
$19.9 $19.9
-21.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berkeley, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,142 $2,142
$3,206 $3,206
-33.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.7K $31.7K
$56.5K $56.5K
-43.92%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Berkeley, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.4 $67.4
$65.7 $65.7
2.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.74 $46.74
$48.75 $48.75
-4.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 $103
$111 $111
-7.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 $148
$172 $172
-13.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berkeley, CA
New York, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,253 $2,253
$4,165 $4,165
-45.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,295 $2,295
$2,653 $2,653
-13.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,750 $4,750
$8,412 $8,412
-43.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,897 $3,897
$5,277 $5,277
-26.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,092 $8,092
$15.6K $15.6K
-48.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,148 $8,148
$11.2K $11.2K
-26.97%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Berkeley, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,617 $6,617
$5,616 $5,616
17.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.44
1.09%

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

Last update for Berkeley, CA: October 26, 2025

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

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