Cost of Living Comparison Between Monrovia, CA and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Monrovia, CA and New York, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,728 per month in Monrovia, CA vs $4,878 in New York, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,129 per month in Monrovia, CA vs $7,262 in New York, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,531 per month in Monrovia, CA vs $9,645 in New York, NY, rent included.

Monrovia, CA is about 44% cheaper than New York, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Monrovia, CA and New York, NY sit above the global median – Monrovia, CA by 99%, New York, NY by 255%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.96 $24.96

$25.20 $25.20

-0.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$150 $150

-32.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.45 $11.45

$13.98 $13.98

-18.10%

Cappuccino

$5.74 $5.74

$6.39 $6.39

-10.17%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$4.01 $4.01

-32.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.91 $2.91

-29.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

$8.01 $8.01

0.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.07 $9.07

$9.94 $9.94

-8.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.33 $1.33

-12.78%

White Bread (500g)

$5.74 $5.74

$4.80 $4.80

19.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$6.81 $6.81

-36.71%

Eggs

$4.96 $4.96

$5.67 $5.67

-12.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.29 $12.29

$16.66 $16.66

-26.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$14.82 $14.82

42.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.78 $13.78

$18.90 $18.90

-27.09%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.03 $6.03

-10.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.16 $2.16

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$5.67 $5.67

-26.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.63 $6.63

$6.07 $6.07

9.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.49 $3.49

1.15%

Onion (1kg)

$3.58 $3.58

$4.14 $4.14

-13.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.67 $2.67

-14.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.56 $2.56

-9.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$19.04 $19.04

-38.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.25 $15.25

$19.73 $19.73

-22.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$3.30 $3.30

-49.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 $3.22

$3.97 $3.97

-18.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.99 $2.99

-35.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 $140

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.54 $4.54

$2.94 $2.94

54.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.12 $2.12

-13.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.46 $35.46

$41.24 $41.24

-14.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.11 $1.11

31.53%

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

$36.7K $36.7K

$35.2K $35.2K

4.20%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.2K $25.2K

2.01%

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

$213 $213

$218 $218

-2.50%

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

$72.2 $72.2

$76.5 $76.5

-5.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.9 $68.9

$76.0 $76.0

-9.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.76 $39.76

$128 $128

-68.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.2 $63.2

Cinema Ticket

$11.90 $11.90

$23.94 $23.94

-50.29%

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

$1,954 $1,954

$3,313 $3,313

-41.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.3K $42.3K

$60.8K $60.8K

-30.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.3 $73.3

$74.0 $74.0

-0.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.37 $41.37

$56.3 $56.3

-26.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 $80.9

$116 $116

-30.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 $171

$130 $130

31.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,585 $1,585

$4,391 $4,391

-63.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,253 $1,253

$3,088 $3,088

-59.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,500 $2,500

$9,291 $9,291

-73.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,397 $2,397

$5,460 $5,460

-56.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,876 $2,876

$19.3K $19.3K

-85.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,223 $2,223

$6,723 $6,723

-66.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,364 $5,364

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.08

6.43

-5.44%

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

Last update for Monrovia, CA: August 31, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,585 in Monrovia, CA versus $4,391 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 $102 in Monrovia, CA versus $150 in New York, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $477 vs $512 – making Monrovia, CA 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

Monrovia, CA vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,728 in Monrovia, CA, $4,878 in New York, NY – roughly 79% apart. New York, NY costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,092 per month in Monrovia, CA and $7,317 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 Monrovia, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Monrovia, CA and $150 in New York, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in New York, NY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,728 in Monrovia, CA and $4,878 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 $2,728 in Monrovia, CA to $4,878 in New York, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Monrovia, CA. 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.