Cost of Living Comparison Between Foster City, CA and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Foster City, CA and New York, NY

🙂 Solo nomad: Foster City, CA is 31.1% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 8.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Foster City, CA is 24.8% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 21% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.05 $15.05

$29.68 $29.68

-49.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.5 $69.5

$144 $144

-51.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.1 $11.1

$12.43 $12.43

-10.70%

Cappuccino

$4.94 $4.94

$5.84 $5.84

-15.41%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$3.26 $3.26

2.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.5 $2.5

$2.58 $2.58

-3.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.2 $9.2

$8.24 $8.24

11.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.89 $10.89

$11.86 $11.86

-8.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.56 $1.56

-32.69%

White Bread (500g)

$3.33 $3.33

$5.23 $5.23

-36.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$8.11 $8.11

-72.38%

Eggs

$3.06 $3.06

$7.25 $7.25

-57.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$17.08 $17.08

-4.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.23 $11.23

$16.24 $16.24

-30.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.13 $20.13

$20.02 $20.02

0.55%

Apples (1kg)

$6.21 $6.21

$7.49 $7.49

-17.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.55 $2.55

-3.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$5.82 $5.82

-18.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$6.52 $6.52

-50.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.72 $3.72

-10.22%

Onion (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$3.9 $3.9

11.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.07 $3.07

-1.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.57 $2.57

-43.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.38 $11.38

$19.21 $19.21

-40.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.99 $11.99

$17.79 $17.79

-32.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$3.01 $3.01

-22.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.72 $3.72

-11.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.64 $3.64

$2.92 $2.92

24.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$191 $191

$134 $134

42.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$5.13 $5.13

-30.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.15 $2.15

-13.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.16 $30.16

$41.57 $41.57

-27.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.95 $0.95

34.74%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$35K $35K

-14.64%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$27.7K $27.7K

-4.35%

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

$270 $270

$179 $179

50.93%

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

$49.14 $49.14

$60 $60

-18.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.9 $68.9

$63.8 $63.8

8.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.62 $42.62

$141 $141

-69.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.9 $63.9

Cinema Ticket

$15.35 $15.35

$19.9 $19.9

-22.86%

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

$1,978 $1,978

$3,206 $3,206

-38.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.4K $26.4K

$56.5K $56.5K

-53.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.18 $46.18

$65.7 $65.7

-29.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.75 $29.75

$48.75 $48.75

-38.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.7 $65.7

$111 $111

-40.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.86 $49.86

$172 $172

-70.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,056 $3,056

$4,165 $4,165

-26.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,558 $2,558

$2,653 $2,653

-3.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,515 $4,515

$8,412 $8,412

-46.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,522 $4,522

$5,277 $5,277

-14.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.8K $10.8K

$15.6K $15.6K

-30.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,784 $9,784

$11.2K $11.2K

-12.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,087 $7,087

$5,616 $5,616

26.19%

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 Foster City, CA: October 27, 2025

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

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