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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,719 per month in Medford, MA vs $4,438 in New York, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,013 per month in Medford, MA vs $7,016 in New York, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,306 per month in Medford, MA vs $9,593 in New York, NY, rent included.

Medford, MA is about 39% cheaper than New York, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medford, MA and New York, NY sit above the global median – Medford, MA by 103%, New York, NY by 231%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.08 $19.08

$29.91 $29.91

-36.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$144 $144

-29.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.04 $11.04

$12.32 $12.32

-10.39%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$6.03 $6.03

-5.31%

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

$2.70 $2.70

$3.39 $3.39

-20.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.56 $2.56

-17.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.04 $8.04

$8.20 $8.20

-1.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$11.95 $11.95

-23.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.54 $1.54

-17.53%

White Bread (500g)

$3.29 $3.29

$5.15 $5.15

-36.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$8.43 $8.43

-64.41%

Eggs

$4.70 $4.70

$6.97 $6.97

-32.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.67 $10.67

$17.28 $17.28

-38.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.50 $9.50

$16.24 $16.24

-41.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.60 $20.60

$19.95 $19.95

3.26%

Apples (1kg)

$5.90 $5.90

$7.45 $7.45

-20.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.42 $2.42

-12.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$5.87 $5.87

-2.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.31 $6.31

-7.45%

Potato (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$3.72 $3.72

18.28%

Onion (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$3.99 $3.99

-4.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.19 $3.19

-13.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.55 $2.55

-13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.04 $11.04

$19.09 $19.09

-42.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.04 $15.04

$20.24 $20.24

-25.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.99 $2.99

-29.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.87 $3.87

-49.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.95 $2.95

-19.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.8 $91.8

$131 $131

-29.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 $2.53

$5.13 $5.13

-50.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.20 $2.20

-22.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.54 $28.54

$42.64 $42.64

-33.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.95 $0.95

-11.58%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$34.5K $34.5K

-12.43%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$28.2K $28.2K

-11.65%

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

$193 $193

$182 $182

6.30%

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

$58.7 $58.7

$60.1 $60.1

-2.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.4 $65.4

$61.9 $61.9

5.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.63 $42.63

$140 $140

-69.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.4 $64.4

Cinema Ticket

$14.59 $14.59

$20.33 $20.33

-28.23%

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

$1,513 $1,513

$3,222 $3,222

-53.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.0K $28.0K

$56.2K $56.2K

-50.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.8 $51.8

$65.9 $65.9

-21.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 $32.20

$47.20 $47.20

-31.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.7 $65.7

$111 $111

-40.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.0 $82.0

$173 $173

-52.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,588 $1,588

$4,208 $4,208

-62.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,375 $1,375

$2,647 $2,647

-48.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,656 $2,656

$8,415 $8,415

-68.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,209 $2,209

$5,170 $5,170

-57.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.1K $20.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,742 $8,742

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,144 $5,144

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.44

-0.16%

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

Last update for Medford, MA: April 19, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,588 in Medford, MA versus $4,208 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Medford, MA versus $144 in New York, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $415 vs $554 – making Medford, 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

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

Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 63%, 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 $4,079 per month in Medford, MA and $6,657 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 Medford, MA, 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 $2,719 in Medford, MA and $4,438 in New York, NY. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 42% less in Medford, MA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,719 in Medford, MA and $4,438 in New York, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Medford, 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 Medford, 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.