Cost of Living Comparison Between Lowell, MA and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Lowell, MA and New York, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,658 per month in Lowell, MA vs $4,437 in New York, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,230 per month in Lowell, MA vs $6,995 in New York, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,802 per month in Lowell, MA vs $9,552 in New York, NY, rent included.

Lowell, MA is about 40% cheaper than New York, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lowell, MA and New York, NY sit above the global median – Lowell, MA by 97%, New York, NY by 229%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.12 $19.12

$30.14 $30.14

-36.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.8 $80.8

$147 $147

-45.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 $8.88

$12.62 $12.62

-29.64%

Cappuccino

$4.48 $4.48

$6.00 $6.00

-25.33%

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

$2.04 $2.04

$3.35 $3.35

-39.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.58 $2.58

-35.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 $5.94

$8.18 $8.18

-27.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.66 $7.66

$11.99 $11.99

-36.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.61 $1.61

-45.96%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 $2.15

$5.03 $5.03

-57.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.12 $3.12

$8.40 $8.40

-62.86%

Eggs

$3.90 $3.90

$7.10 $7.10

-45.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.64 $10.64

$17.38 $17.38

-38.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.87 $8.87

$16.18 $16.18

-45.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$20.48 $20.48

2.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$7.36 $7.36

-62.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$2.56 $2.56

-54.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.85 $5.85

$5.71 $5.71

2.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.77 $5.77

$6.24 $6.24

-7.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 $1.60

$3.87 $3.87

-58.66%

Onion (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$4.11 $4.11

5.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.03 $3.03

0.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.55 $2.55

-14.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.19 $11.19

$19.07 $19.07

-41.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$19.66 $19.66

-23.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.98 $2.98

-40.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$3.75 $3.75

-48.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.94 $2.94

-37.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.0 $55.0

$131 $131

-57.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 $3.98

$5.07 $5.07

-21.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.19 $2.19

-18.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.64 $28.64

$41.49 $41.49

-30.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.98 $0.98

-8.16%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$34.5K $34.5K

-13.00%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$28.3K $28.3K

-8.50%

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

$185 $185

$184 $184

0.41%

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

$52.6 $52.6

$59.0 $59.0

-10.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$61.9 $61.9

5.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.05 $40.05

$141 $141

-71.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

Cinema Ticket

$14.17 $14.17

$20.13 $20.13

-29.61%

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

$1,390 $1,390

$3,191 $3,191

-56.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$57.5K $57.5K

-58.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$67.2 $67.2

-23.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.08 $33.08

$47.98 $47.98

-31.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 $65.0

$111 $111

-41.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.8 $68.8

$170 $170

-59.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,628 $1,628

$4,207 $4,207

-61.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,463 $1,463

$2,717 $2,717

-46.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,759 $3,759

$8,382 $8,382

-55.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,167 $3,167

$5,127 $5,127

-38.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,517 $3,517

$19.5K $19.5K

-82.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,862 $8,862

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,931 $3,931

$5,228 $5,228

-24.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.44

0.16%

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

Last update for Lowell, MA: April 11, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lowell, MA versus $4,207 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 33% higher in New York, NY, 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 $81 in Lowell, MA versus $147 in New York, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $366 vs $553 – making Lowell, MA 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

Lowell, MA vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 67%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,987 per month in Lowell, MA and $6,655 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 Lowell, MA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 138% less in Lowell, MA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,390 per month in Lowell, MA and $3,191 in New York, NY. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,658 in Lowell, MA and $4,437 in New York, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

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 Lowell, MA. 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.