Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between California, MD and New York, NY

For one person, living is cheaper in California, MD: $2,616 a month against $4,938 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $27,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

126

Cost of Living Index in California, MD
Learn more

California, MD Living Index
239

Cost of Living Index in New York, NY
Learn more

New York, NY Living Index

Jump to prices

California, MD

🇺🇸 United States

$2,616

/mo nomad

New York, NY

🇺🇸 United States

$4,938

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in California, MD and in New York, NY

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in California, MD and in New York, NY actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,616 per month in California, MD vs $4,938 in New York, NY, rent included.

California, MD $2,616
New York, NY $4,938

A couple spends around $3,733 per month in California, MD vs $7,273 in New York, NY, rent included.

California, MD $3,733
New York, NY $7,273

A family of three spends $4,849 per month in California, MD vs $9,608 in New York, NY, rent included.

California, MD $4,849
New York, NY $9,608

California, MD is about 47% cheaper than New York, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both California, MD and New York, NY sit above the global median – California, MD by 93%, New York, NY by 264%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.81 $24.81

$24.99 $24.99

-0.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$120 $120

-37.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.93 $9.93

$13.74 $13.74

-27.73%

Cappuccino

$5.98 $5.98

$6.60 $6.60

-9.39%

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

$2.73 $2.73

$3.82 $3.82

-28.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.87 $2.87

-14.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.10 $5.10

$7.95 $7.95

-35.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.80 $7.80

$10.06 $10.06

-22.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.37 $1.37

-27.01%

White Bread (500g)

$3.83 $3.83

$4.75 $4.75

-19.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$7.69 $7.69

-71.78%

Eggs

$3.97 $3.97

$5.87 $5.87

-32.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.81 $11.81

$19.25 $19.25

-38.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$17.83 $17.83

-18.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.07 $13.07

$19.03 $19.03

-31.32%

Apples (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$6.69 $6.69

-34.68%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.29 $2.29

-3.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$6.41 $6.41

-31.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.70 $6.70

$6.75 $6.75

-0.74%

Potato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.93 $3.93

11.20%

Onion (1kg)

$3.94 $3.94

$4.52 $4.52

-12.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.79 $2.79

-29.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.51 $2.51

-19.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.89 $8.89

$18.10 $18.10

-50.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.05 $14.05

$20.16 $20.16

-30.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$3.26 $3.26

-48.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.80 $4.80

$3.75 $3.75

28.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.92 $2.92

-26.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.4 $81.4

$143 $143

-42.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.06 $3.06

-0.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$2.16 $2.16

-34.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.46 $22.46

$41.33 $41.33

-45.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.12 $1.12

-16.07%

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

$33.5K $33.5K

$33.1K $33.1K

1.02%

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

$23.1K $23.1K

$25.7K $25.7K

-10.28%

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

$98.2 $98.2

$219 $219

-55.21%

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

$41.44 $41.44

$75.3 $75.3

-44.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.0 $62.0

$70.5 $70.5

-12.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.40 $39.40

$116 $116

-65.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.91 $10.91

$67.6 $67.6

-83.87%

Cinema Ticket

$18.19 $18.19

$21.37 $21.37

-14.88%

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

$1,875 $1,875

$3,432 $3,432

-45.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$61.7K $61.7K

-48.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 $53.9

$74.9 $74.9

-28.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.77 $47.77

$52.1 $52.1

-8.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$117 $117

-26.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$135 $135

-19.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,693 $1,693

$4,347 $4,347

-61.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,338 $1,338

$3,117 $3,117

-57.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,793 $1,793

$9,110 $9,110

-80.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,887 $1,887

$5,379 $5,379

-64.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,716 $6,716

$19.3K $19.3K

-65.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,236 $6,236

$6,943 $6,943

-10.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,062 $7,062

$5,238 $5,238

34.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

6.85

-6.57%

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

Last update for California, MD: October 18, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

California, MD

$1.3K 51.2%

New York, NY

$3.1K 63.1% 133% $1.8K

Groceries & Markets

California, MD

$406 15.5%

New York, NY

$552 11.2% 36.1% $146

Eating Out

California, MD

$362 13.8%

New York, NY

$407 8.2% 12.5% $45

Monthly Utilities & Internet

California, MD

$202 7.7%

New York, NY

$365 7.4% 81.1% $163

Clothing & Footwear

California, MD

$133 5.1%

New York, NY

$170 3.5% 28.3% $38

Getting Around

California, MD

$100 3.8%

New York, NY

$168 3.4% 67.9% $68

Sport & Entertainment

California, MD

$76 2.9%

New York, NY

$158 3.2% 109% $82

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,693 in California, MD versus $4,347 in New York, NY. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 35% higher in California, MD, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in California, MD versus $120 in New York, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $406 vs $552 – making California, MD the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 California, MD

🇺🇸 New York, NY

🕒 Local time

22:34 10:34 PM

Same time as California, MD

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

13,000

8,804,190

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

California, MD New York, NY 330 km

From you

California, MD
New York, NY

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

California, MD vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 89%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,925 per month in California, MD and $7,407 in New York, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in California, MD, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% more in New York, NY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in California, MD and $120 in New York, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,616 in California, MD and $4,938 in New York, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward California, MD – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with California, MD. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.