Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in McLean, VA: $2,998 a month against $4,938 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $23,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

145

Cost of Living Index in McLean, VA
Learn more

McLean, VA Living Index
239

Cost of Living Index in New York, NY
Learn more

New York, NY Living Index

Jump to prices

McLean, VA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,998

/mo nomad

New York, NY

🇺🇸 United States

$4,938

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,998 per month in McLean, VA vs $4,938 in New York, NY, rent included.

McLean, VA $2,998
New York, NY $4,938

A couple spends around $4,767 per month in McLean, VA vs $7,273 in New York, NY, rent included.

McLean, VA $4,767
New York, NY $7,273

A family of three spends $6,536 per month in McLean, VA vs $9,608 in New York, NY, rent included.

McLean, VA $6,536
New York, NY $9,608

McLean, VA is about 39% cheaper than New York, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both McLean, VA and New York, NY sit above the global median – McLean, VA by 121%, New York, NY by 264%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.76 $16.76

$24.99 $24.99

-32.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 $69.9

$120 $120

-41.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.58 $11.58

$13.74 $13.74

-15.72%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$6.60 $6.60

-17.42%

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

$2.34 $2.34

$3.82 $3.82

-38.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.87 $2.87

-31.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.01 $9.01

$7.95 $7.95

13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.07 $10.07

$10.06 $10.06

0.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.37 $1.37

-5.11%

White Bread (500g)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.75 $4.75

-14.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$7.69 $7.69

-71.26%

Eggs

$4.67 $4.67

$5.87 $5.87

-20.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.35 $17.35

$19.25 $19.25

-9.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.99 $16.99

$17.83 $17.83

-4.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.31 $18.31

$19.03 $19.03

-3.78%

Apples (1kg)

$6.35 $6.35

$6.69 $6.69

-5.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 $1.61

$2.29 $2.29

-29.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.05 $5.05

$6.41 $6.41

-21.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.74 $5.74

$6.75 $6.75

-14.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$3.93 $3.93

-26.21%

Onion (1kg)

$3.74 $3.74

$4.52 $4.52

-17.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.79 $2.79

-7.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.51 $2.51

5.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.26 $14.26

$18.10 $18.10

-21.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$20.16 $20.16

-22.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.26 $3.26

-2.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.75 $3.75

50.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.92 $2.92

-15.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$143 $143

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.06 $3.06

29.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.16 $2.16

-26.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.19 $25.19

$41.33 $41.33

-39.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.12 $1.12

-18.75%

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

$34.8K $34.8K

$33.1K $33.1K

4.92%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.7K $25.7K

0.66%

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

$207 $207

$219 $219

-5.50%

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

$75.4 $75.4

$75.3 $75.3

0.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.6 $55.6

$70.5 $70.5

-21.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.6 $90.6

$116 $116

-21.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$67.6 $67.6

Cinema Ticket

$18.26 $18.26

$21.37 $21.37

-14.55%

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

$1,940 $1,940

$3,432 $3,432

-43.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$41.8K $41.8K

$61.7K $61.7K

-32.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.0 $52.0

$74.9 $74.9

-30.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.07 $44.07

$52.1 $52.1

-15.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.9 $68.9

$117 $117

-40.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.0 $66.0

$135 $135

-50.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,836 $2,836

$4,347 $4,347

-34.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,610 $1,610

$3,117 $3,117

-48.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,942 $3,942

$9,110 $9,110

-56.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,506 $3,506

$5,379 $5,379

-34.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,943 $6,943

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,722 $5,722

$5,238 $5,238

9.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.63

6.85

-3.21%

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

Last update for McLean, VA: October 18, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

McLean, VA

$1.6K 53.7%

New York, NY

$3.1K 63.1% 93.6% $1.5K

Groceries & Markets

McLean, VA

$480 16%

New York, NY

$552 11.2% 15% $72

Monthly Utilities & Internet

McLean, VA

$338 11.3%

New York, NY

$365 7.4% 8% $27

Eating Out

McLean, VA

$317 10.6%

New York, NY

$407 8.2% 28.5% $90

Sport & Entertainment

McLean, VA

$127 4.2%

New York, NY

$158 3.2% 24.4% $31

Clothing & Footwear

McLean, VA

$104 3.5%

New York, NY

$170 3.5% 63.8% $66

Getting Around

McLean, VA

$22 * 0.7%

New York, NY

$168 3.4% 675% $146

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,836 in McLean, VA versus $4,347 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 9% higher in McLean, VA, 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 $70.0 in McLean, VA versus $120 in New York, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $480 vs $552 – making McLean, VA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 McLean, VA

🇺🇸 New York, NY

🕒 Local time

07:39 7:39 AM

Same time as McLean, VA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

48,115

8,804,190

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

McLean, VA New York, NY 320 km

From you

McLean, 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

McLean, VA vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,998 in McLean, VA, $4,938 in New York, NY – roughly 65% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,496 per month in McLean, VA and $7,407 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 McLean, VA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,998 in McLean, VA and $4,938 in New York, NY. That's a gap of about 65%.

Kindergarten costs $1,940 per month in McLean, VA and $3,432 in New York, NY. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,998 in McLean, VA and $4,938 in New York, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. New York, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,998 in McLean, VA to $4,938 in New York, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with McLean, VA. 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.