Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Manassas, VA and New York, NY

For one person, living is cheaper in Manassas, VA: $3,064 a month against $4,950 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $22,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Manassas, VA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,064
/mo nomad
New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,950
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,064 in Manassas, VA versus $4,950 in New York, NY.

  • Manassas, VA $3,064
  • New York, NY $4,950

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,424 in Manassas, VA versus $7,265 in New York, NY.

  • Manassas, VA $4,424
  • New York, NY $7,265

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,784 in Manassas, VA versus $9,581 in New York, NY.

  • Manassas, VA $5,784
  • New York, NY $9,581

Living in Manassas, VA costs roughly 38% less than in New York, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manassas, VA 127% above, New York, NY 267% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manassas, VA
New York, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.52 $24.52
$24.65 $24.65
-0.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.9 $90.9
$122 $122
-25.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.11 $12.11
$13.91 $13.91
-12.94%
Cappuccino
$6.68 $6.68
$6.59 $6.59
1.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$3.84 $3.84
-32.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.87 $2.87
-17.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.63 $6.63
$7.79 $7.79
-14.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.19 $8.19
$9.85 $9.85
-16.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manassas, VA
New York, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.38 $1.38
-23.91%
White Bread (500g)
$3.73 $3.73
$4.68 $4.68
-20.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.19 $7.19
$7.54 $7.54
-4.64%
Eggs
$4.76 $4.76
$5.93 $5.93
-19.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.94 $10.94
$18.83 $18.83
-41.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.50 $14.50
$17.36 $17.36
-16.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.11 $20.11
$18.51 $18.51
8.64%
Apples (1kg)
$7.59 $7.59
$6.74 $6.74
12.61%
Banana (1kg)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.09 $2.09
8.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.99 $7.99
$6.07 $6.07
31.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.87 $6.87
$6.74 $6.74
1.93%
Potato (1kg)
$5.64 $5.64
$4.05 $4.05
39.26%
Onion (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.37 $4.37
-5.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.89 $2.89
-22.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.60 $2.60
-18.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.03 $9.03
$18.72 $18.72
-51.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.18 $14.18
$20.06 $20.06
-29.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$3.25 $3.25
-35.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 $3.84
$3.73 $3.73
2.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Manassas, VA
New York, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.14 $5.14
$3.06 $3.06
67.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$140 $140
-28.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 $3.09
$3.04 $3.04
1.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.15 $2.15
-32.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.39 $20.39
$41.82 $41.82
-51.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.12 $1.12
-7.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K $35.9K
$35.5K $35.5K
1.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K $24.8K
$26.0K $26.0K
-4.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manassas, VA
New York, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$211 $211
$219 $219
-3.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.0 $53.0
$73.2 $73.2
-27.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.0 $60.0
$72.0 $72.0
-16.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manassas, VA
New York, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.15 $44.15
$123 $123
-64.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.98 $19.98
$67.7 $67.7
-70.47%
Cinema Ticket
$17.77 $17.77
$22.85 $22.85
-22.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manassas, VA
New York, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,916 $1,916
$3,333 $3,333
-42.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K $12.1K
$60.0K $60.0K
-79.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manassas, VA
New York, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.00 $47.00
$75.2 $75.2
-37.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.01 $49.01
$52.4 $52.4
-6.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$122 $122
-15.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 $105
$133 $133
-21.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manassas, VA
New York, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,838 $1,838
$4,389 $4,389
-58.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,526 $1,526
$3,130 $3,130
-51.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,920 $2,920
$8,918 $8,918
-67.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,293 $2,293
$5,354 $5,354
-57.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,733 $2,733
$19.4K $19.4K
-85.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,484 $2,484
$6,806 $6,806
-63.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manassas, VA
New York, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,795 $4,795
$5,343 $5,343
-10.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.64
6.82
-2.64%

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

Last update for Manassas, VA: October 11, 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
Manassas, VA
$1.5K
New York, NY
$3.1K 105% $1.6K
Groceries & Markets
Manassas, VA
$485
New York, NY
$545 12.4% $60
Eating Out
Manassas, VA
$382
New York, NY
$404 5.7% $22
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manassas, VA
$324
New York, NY
$364 12.3% $40
Clothing & Footwear
Manassas, VA
$136
New York, NY
$172 26.2% $36
Getting Around
Manassas, VA
$132
New York, NY
$167 26.6% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Manassas, VA
$80
New York, NY
$168 111% $89

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,838 in Manassas, VA and $4,389 in New York, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 11% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $91.0 in Manassas, VA vs $122 in New York, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $485 vs $545 per month, with Manassas, VA cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Manassas, VA
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🕒 Local time
02:02 2:02 AM
02:02 2:02 AM
Same time as Manassas, VA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
42,772
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
  • Manassas, VA New York, NY 350 km
From you
  • Manassas, VA
  • 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
Manassas, VA vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Manassas, VA or New York, NY?
Manassas, VA wins on cost – living expenses run 62% lower than in New York, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Manassas, VA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Manassas, VA or in New York, NY?
On paper, salaries run 11% lower in New York, NY. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Manassas, VA compared to New York, NY?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,838 in Manassas, VA versus $4,389 in New York, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Manassas, VA compared to New York, NY?
A monthly transit pass in Manassas, VA runs roughly 40% less than in New York, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Manassas, VA and in New York, NY?
Childcare runs $1,916 in Manassas, VA versus $3,333 in New York, NY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Manassas, VA or in New York, NY?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Manassas, VA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Manassas, VA or New York, NY?
Both work as nomad bases, but Manassas, VA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,064 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Manassas, VA hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Manassas, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Manassas, VA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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