Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Mesa, CA and Hempstead, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Mesa, CA and Hempstead, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,738 per month in Costa Mesa, CA vs $2,587 in Hempstead, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,327 per month in Costa Mesa, CA vs $3,739 in Hempstead, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,915 per month in Costa Mesa, CA vs $4,891 in Hempstead, NY, rent included.

Costa Mesa, CA costs about 45% more than Hempstead, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Costa Mesa, CA and Hempstead, NY sit above the global median – Costa Mesa, CA by 179%, Hempstead, NY by 93%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.31 $20.31

$17.14 $17.14

18.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.9 $78.9

$76.2 $76.2

3.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.14 $12.14

$12.91 $12.91

-5.96%

Cappuccino

$5.07 $5.07

$4.90 $4.90

3.47%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.48 $2.48

31.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.17 $2.17

4.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.08 $7.08

$7.03 $7.03

0.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.22 $8.22

$8.02 $8.02

2.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.14 $1.14

-0.88%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$1.60 $1.60

155.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$2.41 $2.41

86.31%

Eggs

$5.11 $5.11

$3.50 $3.50

46.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.45 $10.45

$9.55 $9.55

9.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.76 $8.76

$10.10 $10.10

-13.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.75 $14.75

$12.33 $12.33

19.63%

Apples (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$2.95 $2.95

49.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.62 $1.62

19.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$1.76 $1.76

152.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$4.72 $4.72

20.55%

Potato (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$4.43 $4.43

0.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.63 $2.63

11.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.46 $2.46

-13.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.18 $2.18

-3.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.85 $10.85

$13.71 $13.71

-20.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.27 $15.27

$14.21 $14.21

7.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.84 $1.84

4.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 $3.56

$3.67 $3.67

-3.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.95 $1.95

3.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.73 $6.73

$6.06 $6.06

11.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.42 $1.42

96.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.28 $29.28

$28.77 $28.77

1.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$0.95 $0.95

30.53%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$29.0K $29.0K

-15.95%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

-5.81%

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

$294 $294

$145 $145

102.99%

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

$52.4 $52.4

$44.54 $44.54

17.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.5 $59.5

$55.6 $55.6

6.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.72 $39.72

$42.98 $42.98

-7.58%

Cinema Ticket

$14.95 $14.95

$12.65 $12.65

18.18%

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

$1,204 $1,204

$1,378 $1,378

-12.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$23.1K $23.1K

0.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 $55.4

$36.62 $36.62

51.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.50 $34.50

$24.45 $24.45

41.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 $88.2

$87.0 $87.0

1.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$70.6 $70.6

44.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,775 $2,775

$1,599 $1,599

73.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,513 $2,513

$1,379 $1,379

82.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,931 $3,931

$2,635 $2,635

49.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,915 $3,915

$2,263 $2,263

72.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,090 $6,090

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

6.57

0.15%

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

Last update for Costa Mesa, CA: June 2, 2026

Last update for Hempstead, NY: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,775 in Costa Mesa, CA versus $1,599 in Hempstead, NY. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Costa Mesa, CA versus $76.0 in Hempstead, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $390 vs $322 – making Hempstead, NY the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Costa Mesa, CA vs Hempstead, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Costa Mesa, CA costs about 45% more than Hempstead, NY, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,608 per month in Costa Mesa, CA and $3,880 in Hempstead, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,738 in Costa Mesa, CA and $2,587 in Hempstead, NY. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,204 per month in Costa Mesa, CA and $1,378 in Hempstead, NY. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,738 in Costa Mesa, CA and $2,587 in Hempstead, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hempstead, NY costs $2,587 versus $3,738 in Costa Mesa, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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