Cost of Living Comparison Between Elizabeth, NJ and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Elizabeth, NJ and New York, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,222 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $4,438 in New York, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,513 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $7,016 in New York, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,805 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $9,593 in New York, NY.

Living in Elizabeth, NJ costs roughly 27% less than in New York, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Elizabeth, NJ 140% above, New York, NY 231% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.06 $20.06

$29.91 $29.91

-32.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.0 $99.0

$144 $144

-31.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.95 $11.95

$12.32 $12.32

-3.00%

Cappuccino

$5.69 $5.69

$6.03 $6.03

-5.64%

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

$2.30 $2.30

$3.39 $3.39

-32.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 $1.55

$2.56 $2.56

-39.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.84 $6.84

$8.20 $8.20

-16.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.90 $6.90

$11.95 $11.95

-42.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.54 $1.54

-15.58%

White Bread (500g)

$4.14 $4.14

$5.15 $5.15

-19.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$8.43 $8.43

-32.38%

Eggs

$5.30 $5.30

$6.97 $6.97

-23.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.74 $13.74

$17.28 $17.28

-20.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.39 $11.39

$16.24 $16.24

-29.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.55 $17.55

$19.95 $19.95

-12.03%

Apples (1kg)

$5.76 $5.76

$7.45 $7.45

-22.68%

Banana (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.42 $2.42

6.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$5.87 $5.87

-28.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$6.31 $6.31

-32.01%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 $3.02

$3.72 $3.72

-18.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.99 $3.99

-32.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.83 $2.83

$3.19 $3.19

-11.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.55 $2.55

-4.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.73 $14.73

$19.09 $19.09

-22.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$20.24 $20.24

-25.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.99 $2.99

-12.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.87 $3.87

-9.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.95 $2.95

-2.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.1 $76.1

$131 $131

-41.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 $3.02

$5.13 $5.13

-41.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.20 $2.20

1.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.67 $42.67

$42.64 $42.64

0.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.95 $0.95

-4.21%

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

$23.5K $23.5K

$34.5K $34.5K

-31.76%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$28.2K $28.2K

-13.15%

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

$215 $215

$182 $182

18.23%

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

$52.5 $52.5

$60.1 $60.1

-12.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.4 $58.4

$61.9 $61.9

-5.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.06 $25.06

$140 $140

-82.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.4 $64.4

Cinema Ticket

$20.19 $20.19

$20.33 $20.33

-0.69%

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

$1,722 $1,722

$3,222 $3,222

-46.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K $14.1K

$56.2K $56.2K

-74.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.7 $50.7

$65.9 $65.9

-23.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.8 $59.8

$47.20 $47.20

26.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 $87.7

$111 $111

-21.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$173 $173

-27.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,184 $2,184

$4,208 $4,208

-48.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,769 $1,769

$2,647 $2,647

-33.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,662 $2,662

$8,415 $8,415

-68.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,476 $2,476

$5,170 $5,170

-52.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,289 $1,289

$20.1K $20.1K

-93.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,147 $1,147

$8,742 $8,742

-86.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,337 $5,337

$5,144 $5,144

3.76%

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 Elizabeth, NJ: April 22, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,184 in Elizabeth, NJ and $4,208 in New York, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Elizabeth, NJ pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $99 in Elizabeth, NJ vs $144 in New York, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $437 vs $554 per month, with Elizabeth, 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

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

Elizabeth, NJ and New York, NY differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($3,222 vs $4,438 including rent). Elizabeth, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Elizabeth, NJ pays 4% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,184 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $4,208 in New York, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,722 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $3,222 in New York, NY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Elizabeth, 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 Elizabeth, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.