Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbia, SC and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbia, SC and New York, NY

🙂 Solo nomad: Columbia, SC is 38.4% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 51.4% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Columbia, SC is 40.1% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 59.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.21 $18.21

$29.68 $29.68

-38.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.5 $60.5

$144 $144

-58.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.9 $11.9

$12.43 $12.43

-4.26%

Cappuccino

$3.82 $3.82

$5.84 $5.84

-34.59%

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

$2.37 $2.37

$3.26 $3.26

-27.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.58 $2.58

-27.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.41 $4.41

$8.24 $8.24

-46.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.6 $5.6

$11.86 $11.86

-52.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.56 $1.56

-44.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.61 $2.61

$5.23 $5.23

-50.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.64 $3.64

$8.11 $8.11

-55.12%

Eggs

$4.26 $4.26

$7.25 $7.25

-41.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.39 $9.39

$17.08 $17.08

-45.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.99 $12.99

$16.24 $16.24

-20.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.61 $22.61

$20.02 $20.02

12.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$7.49 $7.49

-30.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.55 $2.55

-27.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.27 $5.27

$5.82 $5.82

-9.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$6.52 $6.52

-49.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.72 $3.72

-14.25%

Onion (1kg)

$4.63 $4.63

$3.9 $3.9

18.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$3.07 $3.07

-35.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.57 $2.57

-26.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.53 $8.53

$19.21 $19.21

-55.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.84 $14.84

$17.79 $17.79

-16.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$3.01 $3.01

-32.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$3.72 $3.72

-29.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.92 $2.92

-32.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.68 $40.68

$134 $134

-69.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 $2.03

$5.13 $5.13

-60.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.15 $2.15

-29.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.06 $18.06

$41.57 $41.57

-56.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$0.95 $0.95

-20.00%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$35K $35K

-13.32%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$27.7K $27.7K

-7.64%

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

$218 $218

$179 $179

22.32%

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

$53.7 $53.7

$60 $60

-10.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$63.8 $63.8

-5.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.01 $40.01

$141 $141

-71.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.01 $7.01

$63.9 $63.9

-89.03%

Cinema Ticket

$15.19 $15.19

$19.9 $19.9

-23.67%

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

$1,431 $1,431

$3,206 $3,206

-55.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.3K $22.3K

$56.5K $56.5K

-60.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$65.7 $65.7

-13.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.31 $35.31

$48.75 $48.75

-27.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.3 $80.3

$111 $111

-27.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$172 $172

-32.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,306 $1,306

$4,165 $4,165

-68.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$904 $904

$2,653 $2,653

-65.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$8,412 $8,412

-73.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,290 $1,290

$5,277 $5,277

-75.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,827 $1,827

$15.6K $15.6K

-88.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,750 $1,750

$11.2K $11.2K

-84.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,526 $3,526

$5,616 $5,616

-37.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.44

1.55%

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

Last update for Columbia, SC: October 29, 2025

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

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