Cost of Living Comparison Between Iola, KS and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Iola, KS and New York, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,620 per month in Iola, KS vs $4,878 in New York, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,804 per month in Iola, KS vs $7,262 in New York, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,988 per month in Iola, KS vs $9,645 in New York, NY, rent included.

Iola, KS is about 46% cheaper than New York, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Iola, KS and New York, NY sit above the global median – Iola, KS by 91%, New York, NY by 255%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.09 $30.09

$25.20 $25.20

19.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.0 $60.0

$150 $150

-60.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.37 $10.37

$13.98 $13.98

-25.82%

Cappuccino

$4.92 $4.92

$6.39 $6.39

-23.00%

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

$2.30 $2.30

$4.01 $4.01

-42.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.91 $2.91

-24.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.94 $3.94

$8.01 $8.01

-50.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 $5.90

$9.94 $9.94

-40.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.33 $1.33

-24.06%

White Bread (500g)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.80 $4.80

-26.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$6.81 $6.81

-69.75%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$5.67 $5.67

-23.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.36 $11.36

$16.66 $16.66

-31.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 $9.23

$14.82 $14.82

-37.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.01 $15.01

$18.90 $18.90

-20.58%

Apples (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$6.03 $6.03

-28.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 $1.12

$2.16 $2.16

-48.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$5.67 $5.67

-46.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$6.07 $6.07

-29.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$3.49 $3.49

-51.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$4.14 $4.14

-43.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.67 $2.67

-31.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.56 $2.56

-21.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.22 $9.22

$19.04 $19.04

-51.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.08 $12.08

$19.73 $19.73

-38.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$3.30 $3.30

-47.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 $3.84

$3.97 $3.97

-3.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.99 $2.99

-32.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 $140

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.94 $2.94

1.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$2.12 $2.12

-33.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.57 $35.57

$41.24 $41.24

-13.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.11 $1.11

-19.82%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$35.2K $35.2K

-0.44%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.2K $25.2K

5.47%

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

$267 $267

$218 $218

22.29%

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

$59.0 $59.0

$76.5 $76.5

-22.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.1 $73.1

$76.0 $76.0

-3.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.21 $41.21

$128 $128

-67.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.2 $63.2

Cinema Ticket

$12.22 $12.22

$23.94 $23.94

-48.96%

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

$755 $755

$3,313 $3,313

-77.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$60.8K $60.8K

-61.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.2 $73.2

$74.0 $74.0

-1.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.55 $36.55

$56.3 $56.3

-35.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.3 $77.3

$116 $116

-33.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 $127

$130 $130

-2.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,583 $1,583

$4,391 $4,391

-63.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,282 $1,282

$3,088 $3,088

-58.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,476 $2,476

$9,291 $9,291

-73.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,169 $2,169

$5,460 $5,460

-60.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,764 $2,764

$19.3K $19.3K

-85.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,352 $2,352

$6,723 $6,723

-65.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,364 $5,364

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.12

6.43

-4.82%

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

Last update for Iola, KS: August 30, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,583 in Iola, KS versus $4,391 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Iola, KS versus $150 in New York, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $512 – making Iola, KS 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

Iola, KS vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 86% more than Iola, KS, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,930 per month in Iola, KS and $7,317 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 Iola, KS, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Iola, KS and $150 in New York, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 51% 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,620 in Iola, KS and $4,878 in New York, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Iola, KS costs $2,620 versus $4,878 in New York, NY. 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 Iola, KS. 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.