Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living costs are similar in Key West, FL and in New York, NY: $4,808 and $4,950 a month, rent and utilities included.

Key West, FL
🇺🇸 United States
$4,808
/mo nomad
New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,950
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Key West, FL and in New York, NY

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Key West, FL and in New York, NY actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,808 per month in Key West, FL vs $4,950 in New York, NY, rent included.

  • Key West, FL $4,808
  • New York, NY $4,950

A couple spends around $7,043 per month in Key West, FL vs $7,265 in New York, NY, rent included.

  • Key West, FL $7,043
  • New York, NY $7,265

A family of three spends $9,278 per month in Key West, FL vs $9,581 in New York, NY, rent included.

  • Key West, FL $9,278
  • New York, NY $9,581

Key West, FL is about 3% cheaper than New York, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Key West, FL and New York, NY sit above the global median – Key West, FL by 256%, New York, NY by 267%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Key West, FL
New York, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.31 $22.31
$24.65 $24.65
-9.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.3 $98.3
$122 $122
-19.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.87 $11.87
$13.91 $13.91
-14.67%
Cappuccino
$4.56 $4.56
$6.59 $6.59
-30.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$3.84 $3.84
-41.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 $1.90
$2.87 $2.87
-33.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.85 $5.85
$7.79 $7.79
-24.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.84 $6.84
$9.85 $9.85
-30.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Key West, FL
New York, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.38 $1.38
-28.26%
White Bread (500g)
$3.68 $3.68
$4.68 $4.68
-21.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.74 $6.74
$7.54 $7.54
-10.61%
Eggs
$5.16 $5.16
$5.93 $5.93
-12.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.61 $11.61
$18.83 $18.83
-38.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.34 $13.34
$17.36 $17.36
-23.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.97 $23.97
$18.51 $18.51
29.50%
Apples (1kg)
$4.81 $4.81
$6.74 $6.74
-28.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 $1.86
$2.09 $2.09
-11.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.67 $3.67
$6.07 $6.07
-39.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.74 $6.74
-23.29%
Potato (1kg)
$5.93 $5.93
$4.05 $4.05
46.42%
Onion (1kg)
$3.33 $3.33
$4.37 $4.37
-23.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.60 $3.60
$2.89 $2.89
24.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.65 $2.65
$2.60 $2.60
1.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.18 $8.18
$18.72 $18.72
-56.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.18 $14.18
$20.06 $20.06
-29.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$3.25 $3.25
-38.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$3.73 $3.73
-36.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Key West, FL
New York, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.98 $3.98
$3.06 $3.06
30.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$140 $140
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.90 $3.90
$3.04 $3.04
28.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.12 $3.12
$2.15 $2.15
45.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.20 $30.20
$41.82 $41.82
-27.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.12 $1.12
-18.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K $36.5K
$35.5K $35.5K
2.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$26.0K $26.0K
-0.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Key West, FL
New York, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$215 $215
$219 $219
-1.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.4 $54.4
$73.2 $73.2
-25.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.3 $73.3
$72.0 $72.0
1.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Key West, FL
New York, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$79.6 $79.6
$123 $123
-35.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$67.7 $67.7
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.05 $14.05
$22.85 $22.85
-38.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Key West, FL
New York, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,090 $1,090
$3,333 $3,333
-67.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.7K $20.7K
$60.0K $60.0K
-65.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Key West, FL
New York, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.58 $47.58
$75.2 $75.2
-36.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.78 $41.78
$52.4 $52.4
-20.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.7 $71.7
$122 $122
-41.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.1 $69.1
$133 $133
-48.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Key West, FL
New York, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,436 $3,436
$4,389 $4,389
-21.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,432 $3,432
$3,130 $3,130
9.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$7,122 $7,122
$8,918 $8,918
-20.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$6,144 $6,144
$5,354 $5,354
14.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,644 $9,644
$19.4K $19.4K
-50.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,886 $9,886
$6,806 $6,806
45.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Key West, FL
New York, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,967 $5,967
$5,343 $5,343
11.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.38
6.82
-6.45%

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

Last update for Key West, FL: October 13, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Key West, FL
$3.4K
New York, NY
$3.1K 8.8% $303
Groceries & Markets
Key West, FL
$457
New York, NY
$545 19.2% $88
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Key West, FL
$343
New York, NY
$364 6.2% $21
Eating Out
Key West, FL
$328
New York, NY
$404 22.9% $75
Sport & Entertainment
Key West, FL
$108
New York, NY
$168 56.4% $61
Clothing & Footwear
Key West, FL
$104
New York, NY
$172 66.1% $68
Getting Around
Key West, FL
$35 *
New York, NY
$167 370% $131

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,436 in Key West, FL versus $4,389 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 12% higher in Key West, FL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Key West, FL versus $122 in New York, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $457 vs $545 – making Key West, FL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Key West, FL
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🕒 Local time
17:51 5:51 PM
17:51 5:51 PM
Same time as Key West, FL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
24,684
8,804,190
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Key West, FL New York, NY 1,920 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Key West, FL
  • New York, NY

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is New York, NY cheaper than Key West, FL?
Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 3%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,211 per month in Key West, FL and $7,424 in New York, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Key West, FL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Key West, FL or in New York, NY?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Key West, FL and $122 in New York, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Key West, FL and in New York, NY?
Groceries cost about 19% 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.
Is $4,000 enough to cover costs in Key West, FL or in New York, NY?
$4,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,808 in Key West, FL and $4,950 in New York, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Key West, FL or New York, NY more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Key West, FL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Key West, FL. 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.

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