Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between La Plata, MD and New York, NY

For one person, living is cheaper in La Plata, MD: $2,441 a month against $4,941 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $30,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

La Plata, MD, United States
New York, NY, United States
La Plata, MD
🇺🇸 United States
$2,441
/mo nomad
New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,941
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in La Plata, MD 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 La Plata, MD and in New York, NY actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,441 per month in La Plata, MD vs $4,941 in New York, NY, rent included.

  • La Plata, MD $2,441
  • New York, NY $4,941

A couple spends around $3,635 per month in La Plata, MD vs $7,225 in New York, NY, rent included.

  • La Plata, MD $3,635
  • New York, NY $7,225

A family of three spends $4,829 per month in La Plata, MD vs $9,509 in New York, NY, rent included.

  • La Plata, MD $4,829
  • New York, NY $9,509

La Plata, MD is about 51% cheaper than New York, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both La Plata, MD and New York, NY sit above the global median – La Plata, MD by 79%, New York, NY by 263%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Plata, MD
New York, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.52 $13.52
$28.55 $28.55
-52.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.4 $90.4
$118 $118
-23.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.62 $7.62
$15.04 $15.04
-49.34%
Cappuccino
$6.29 $6.29
$6.53 $6.53
-3.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$3.96 $3.96
-28.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$3.01 $3.01
-14.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.46 $3.46
$8.16 $8.16
-57.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.96 $4.96
$9.84 $9.84
-49.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Plata, MD
New York, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.37 $1.37
22.63%
White Bread (500g)
$4.42 $4.42
$4.97 $4.97
-11.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.23 $6.23
$7.81 $7.81
-20.23%
Eggs
$1.81 $1.81
$5.97 $5.97
-69.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.70 $12.70
$18.91 $18.91
-32.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.81 $8.81
$18.04 $18.04
-51.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.15 $13.15
$19.05 $19.05
-30.97%
Apples (1kg)
$4.89 $4.89
$6.76 $6.76
-27.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$2.27 $2.27
-27.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.32 $6.32
$6.83 $6.83
-7.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$7.09 $7.09
-37.38%
Potato (1kg)
$3.04 $3.04
$4.22 $4.22
-27.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 $2.08
$4.65 $4.65
-55.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.10 $2.10
$2.87 $2.87
-26.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.60 $2.60
4.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.85 $11.85
$18.77 $18.77
-36.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.37 $14.37
$20.13 $20.13
-28.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$3.45 $3.45
-51.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.10 $5.10
$4.02 $4.02
26.87%
🚌 Getting Around
La Plata, MD
New York, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.91 $2.91
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.1 $58.1
$139 $139
-58.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$3.08 $3.08
-11.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.67 $1.67
$2.12 $2.12
-21.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.72 $29.72
$41.96 $41.96
-29.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.17 $1.17
-12.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K $32.6K
$34.5K $34.5K
-5.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K $30.5K
$25.9K $25.9K
18.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Plata, MD
New York, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.8 $97.8
$219 $219
-55.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.02 $42.02
$74.2 $74.2
-43.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.5 $73.5
$70.2 $70.2
4.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Plata, MD
New York, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.39 $40.39
$112 $112
-63.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$74.9 $74.9
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.14 $15.14
$22.14 $22.14
-31.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Plata, MD
New York, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,210 $1,210
$3,558 $3,558
-65.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.0K $23.0K
$62.2K $62.2K
-63.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Plata, MD
New York, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.79 $47.79
$75.6 $75.6
-36.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.43 $36.43
$51.2 $51.2
-28.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 $112
$123 $123
-9.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 $121
$140 $140
-13.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Plata, MD
New York, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,575 $1,575
$4,499 $4,499
-64.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 $1,284
$3,078 $3,078
-58.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,492 $2,492
$9,447 $9,447
-73.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 $2,098
$5,190 $5,190
-59.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,038 $3,038
$18.1K $18.1K
-83.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,428 $2,428
$6,693 $6,693
-63.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Plata, MD
New York, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,502 $6,502
$5,220 $5,220
24.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.25
6.86
-8.89%

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

Last update for La Plata, MD: October 26, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
La Plata, MD
$1.3K
New York, NY
$3.1K 140% $1.8K
Groceries & Markets
La Plata, MD
$398
New York, NY
$563 41.3% $165
Eating Out
La Plata, MD
$255
New York, NY
$440 72.5% $185
Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Plata, MD
$213
New York, NY
$364 70.5% $150
Clothing & Footwear
La Plata, MD
$143
New York, NY
$175 23% $33
Getting Around
La Plata, MD
$77
New York, NY
$164 113% $87
Sport & Entertainment
La Plata, MD
$71
New York, NY
$156 121% $86

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,575 in La Plata, MD versus $4,499 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 25% higher in La Plata, MD, 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 $90 in La Plata, MD versus $118 in New York, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $398 vs $563 – making La Plata, MD the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 La Plata, MD
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🕒 Local time
16:38 4:38 PM
16:38 4:38 PM
Same time as La Plata, MD
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
10,000
8,804,190
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • La Plata, MD New York, NY 340 km
From you
  • La Plata, MD
  • 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
La Plata, MD vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is La Plata, MD cheaper than New York, NY?
Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 102%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,661 per month in La Plata, MD and $7,412 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 La Plata, MD, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,575 there versus $4,499 in New York, NY.
What are total monthly expenses in La Plata, MD and in New York, NY?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,441 in La Plata, MD and $4,941 in New York, NY. That makes La Plata, MD about 51% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 58% less in La Plata, MD. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is La Plata, MD or New York, NY more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward La Plata, MD – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, La Plata, MD is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 51% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

La Plata, MD vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?