Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Merrill, WI and New York, NY

For one person, living is cheaper in Merrill, WI: $2,669 a month against $4,938 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $27,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Merrill, WI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,669
/mo nomad
New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,669 per month in Merrill, WI vs $4,938 in New York, NY, rent included.

  • Merrill, WI $2,669
  • New York, NY $4,938

A couple spends around $3,917 per month in Merrill, WI vs $7,273 in New York, NY, rent included.

  • Merrill, WI $3,917
  • New York, NY $7,273

A family of three spends $5,164 per month in Merrill, WI vs $9,608 in New York, NY, rent included.

  • Merrill, WI $5,164
  • New York, NY $9,608

Merrill, WI is about 46% cheaper than New York, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Merrill, WI and New York, NY sit above the global median – Merrill, WI by 97%, New York, NY by 264%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Merrill, WI
New York, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.92 $19.92
$24.99 $24.99
-20.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.8 $73.8
$120 $120
-38.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.41 $11.41
$13.74 $13.74
-16.96%
Cappuccino
$5.22 $5.22
$6.60 $6.60
-20.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 $2.73
$3.82 $3.82
-28.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.87 $2.87
-30.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.83 $5.83
$7.95 $7.95
-26.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18 $7.18
$10.06 $10.06
-28.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Merrill, WI
New York, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.37 $1.37
-22.63%
White Bread (500g)
$3.58 $3.58
$4.75 $4.75
-24.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.30 $4.30
$7.69 $7.69
-44.08%
Eggs
$4.05 $4.05
$5.87 $5.87
-31.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.47 $12.47
$19.25 $19.25
-35.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.25 $11.25
$17.83 $17.83
-36.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.16 $17.16
$19.03 $19.03
-9.83%
Apples (1kg)
$4.95 $4.95
$6.69 $6.69
-26.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$2.29 $2.29
-31.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.20 $4.20
$6.41 $6.41
-34.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.78 $4.78
$6.75 $6.75
-29.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.85 $2.85
$3.93 $3.93
-27.48%
Onion (1kg)
$3.03 $3.03
$4.52 $4.52
-32.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.79 $2.79
-24.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.51 $2.51
-12.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.24 $10.24
$18.10 $18.10
-43.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.17 $15.17
$20.16 $20.16
-24.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$3.26 $3.26
-39.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 $3.41
$3.75 $3.75
-9.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Merrill, WI
New York, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.92 $2.92
-29.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$110 $110
$143 $143
-23.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 $3.17
$3.06 $3.06
3.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.16 $2.16
-18.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.41 $30.41
$41.33 $41.33
-26.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.12 $1.12
-13.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K $27.8K
$33.1K $33.1K
-16.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$25.7K $25.7K
1.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Merrill, WI
New York, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$197 $197
$219 $219
-10.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.0 $58.0
$75.3 $75.3
-22.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.8 $69.8
$70.5 $70.5
-0.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Merrill, WI
New York, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.50 $41.50
$116 $116
-64.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.82 $8.82
$67.6 $67.6
-86.96%
Cinema Ticket
$13.89 $13.89
$21.37 $21.37
-35.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Merrill, WI
New York, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,421 $1,421
$3,432 $3,432
-58.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K $23.8K
$61.7K $61.7K
-61.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Merrill, WI
New York, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.1 $53.1
$74.9 $74.9
-29.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.32 $41.32
$52.1 $52.1
-20.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.2 $90.2
$117 $117
-22.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 $117
$135 $135
-13.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Merrill, WI
New York, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,625 $1,625
$4,347 $4,347
-62.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,295 $1,295
$3,117 $3,117
-58.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,535 $2,535
$9,110 $9,110
-72.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,148 $2,148
$5,379 $5,379
-60.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,743 $2,743
$19.3K $19.3K
-85.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,374 $2,374
$6,943 $6,943
-65.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Merrill, WI
New York, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,146 $7,146
$5,238 $5,238
36.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.85
-4.09%

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

Last update for Merrill, WI: October 17, 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
Merrill, WI
$1.3K
New York, NY
$3.1K 141% $1.8K
Groceries & Markets
Merrill, WI
$396
New York, NY
$552 39.4% $156
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Merrill, WI
$325
New York, NY
$365 12.5% $40
Eating Out
Merrill, WI
$319
New York, NY
$407 27.7% $88
Clothing & Footwear
Merrill, WI
$135
New York, NY
$170 25.7% $35
Getting Around
Merrill, WI
$130
New York, NY
$168 29.5% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Merrill, WI
$69
New York, NY
$158 128% $89

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,625 in Merrill, WI 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 36% higher in Merrill, WI, 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 $74.0 in Merrill, WI versus $120 in New York, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $396 vs $552 – making Merrill, WI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Merrill, WI
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🕒 Local time
22:57 10:57 PM
23:57 11:57 PM
1 h ahead of Merrill, WI
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,000
8,804,190
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Merrill, WI New York, NY 1,360 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Merrill, WI
  • 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
Merrill, WI vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is New York, NY cheaper than Merrill, WI?
Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 85%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,004 per month in Merrill, WI and $7,407 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 Merrill, WI, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Merrill, WI or in New York, NY?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Merrill, WI and $120 in New York, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Merrill, WI and in New York, NY?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,669 in Merrill, WI and $4,938 in New York, NY. That's a gap of about 85%.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Merrill, WI or in New York, NY?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,669 in Merrill, WI and $4,938 in New York, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Merrill, WI or New York, NY more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Merrill, WI – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Merrill, WI or New York, NY?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Merrill, WI. 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.

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