Cost of Living Comparison Between Key West, FL and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Key West, FL and New York, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,812 per month in Key West, FL vs $4,503 in New York, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,960 per month in Key West, FL vs $7,077 in New York, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,109 per month in Key West, FL vs $9,650 in New York, NY, rent included.

Key West, FL costs about 7% more than New York, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Key West, FL and New York, NY sit above the global median – Key West, FL by 259%, New York, NY by 236%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.88 $22.88

$30.28 $30.28

-24.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.3 $86.3

$142 $142

-39.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.14 $12.14

$12.65 $12.65

-4.03%

Cappuccino

$4.42 $4.42

$5.81 $5.81

-23.92%

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

$2.51 $2.51

$3.26 $3.26

-23.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.58 $2.58

-19.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$8.19 $8.19

-27.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.43 $7.43

$11.82 $11.82

-37.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.53 $1.53

-28.10%

White Bread (500g)

$3.71 $3.71

$5.27 $5.27

-29.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$8.34 $8.34

-53.72%

Eggs

$4.77 $4.77

$7.25 $7.25

-34.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.36 $11.36

$17.29 $17.29

-34.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.58 $13.58

$16.21 $16.21

-16.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.84 $27.84

$19.82 $19.82

40.46%

Apples (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$7.57 $7.57

-33.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.42 $2.42

-26.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$5.83 $5.83

-22.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.32 $6.32

$6.39 $6.39

-1.10%

Potato (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$3.87 $3.87

56.85%

Onion (1kg)

$8.60 $8.60

$4.06 $4.06

111.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.12 $3.12

13.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.45 $2.45

28.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.80 $7.80

$19.26 $19.26

-59.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.16 $14.16

$19.96 $19.96

-29.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.99 $2.99

-33.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$3.73 $3.73

-39.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.84 $2.84

37.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.10 $4.10

$5.11 $5.11

-19.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.11 $2.11

-27.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.71 $29.71

$42.31 $42.31

-29.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.97 $0.97

-15.46%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$34.7K $34.7K

-27.57%

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

$23.9K $23.9K

$27.8K $27.8K

-14.00%

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

$244 $244

$181 $181

34.74%

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

$48.41 $48.41

$60.2 $60.2

-19.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.7 $68.7

$62.5 $62.5

9.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.4 $79.4

$143 $143

-44.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

Cinema Ticket

$13.89 $13.89

$19.98 $19.98

-30.48%

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

$1,252 $1,252

$3,216 $3,216

-61.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$57.2K $57.2K

-59.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.88 $31.88

$67.5 $67.5

-52.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.43 $41.43

$47.68 $47.68

-13.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.4 $65.4

$111 $111

-41.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.2 $61.2

$169 $169

-63.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,435 $3,435

$4,092 $4,092

-16.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,425 $3,425

$2,694 $2,694

27.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$7,149 $7,149

$8,445 $8,445

-15.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,999 $5,999

$5,128 $5,128

16.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,876 $9,876

$18.2K $18.2K

-45.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,710 $9,710

$6,299 $6,299

54.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,852 $5,852

$5,540 $5,540

5.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.44

-0.78%

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

Last update for Key West, FL: May 30, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,435 in Key West, FL versus $4,092 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.

Salaries run about 6% higher in Key West, FL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Key West, FL versus $142 in New York, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $484 vs $554 – making Key West, FL 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

Key West, FL vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Key West, FL costs about 7% more than New York, 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 $7,217 per month in Key West, FL and $6,754 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 New York, NY, 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 $86.0 in Key West, FL and $142 in New York, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Key West, FL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,812 in Key West, FL and $4,503 in New York, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward New York, NY – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with New York, NY. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Key West, FL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.