Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Aliso Viejo, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Aliso Viejo, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,503 in New York, NY versus $3,845 in Aliso Viejo, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,077 in New York, NY versus $5,573 in Aliso Viejo, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,650 in New York, NY versus $7,301 in Aliso Viejo, CA.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 17% more expensive than Aliso Viejo, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 236% above, Aliso Viejo, CA 187% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$25.44 $25.44

19.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$101 $101

40.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$11.20 $11.20

12.95%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$5.54 $5.54

4.87%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.87 $2.87

13.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.32 $2.32

11.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$8.73 $8.73

-6.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$8.99 $8.99

31.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.22 $1.22

25.41%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$4.40 $4.40

19.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$4.77 $4.77

74.84%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$4.56 $4.56

58.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$12.33 $12.33

40.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$11.68 $11.68

38.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$14.35 $14.35

38.12%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$6.31 $6.31

19.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.94 $1.94

24.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$3.78 $3.78

54.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.81 $4.81

32.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.07 $3.07

26.06%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.52 $2.52

61.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.83 $1.83

70.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.02 $2.02

21.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$10.54 $10.54

82.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$14.83 $14.83

34.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.81 $1.81

65.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.12 $3.12

19.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.96 $2.96

-4.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.11 $4.11

24.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.10 $2.10

0.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$29.15 $29.15

45.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.25 $1.25

-22.40%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$28.2K $28.2K

23.03%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$27.0K $27.0K

2.96%

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

$181 $181

$185 $185

-1.78%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$55.0 $55.0

9.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$69.7 $69.7

-10.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$49.60 $49.60

188.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$18.26 $18.26

9.42%

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

$3,216 $3,216

$1,793 $1,793

79.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$23.7K $23.7K

140.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$62.5 $62.5

8.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$46.63 $46.63

2.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$100.0 $100.0

11.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$149 $149

12.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$2,807 $2,807

45.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$2,493 $2,493

8.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$4,054 $4,054

108.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$4,281 $4,281

19.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$7,234 $7,234

151.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

$6,542 $6,542

-3.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

$7,977 $7,977

-30.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.49

-0.77%

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

Last update for New York, NY: June 1, 2026

Last update for Aliso Viejo, CA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,092 in New York, NY and $2,807 in Aliso Viejo, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aliso Viejo, CA pays 44% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $142 in New York, NY vs $101 in Aliso Viejo, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $405 per month, with Aliso Viejo, CA cheaper across the board.

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

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

New York, NY and Aliso Viejo, CA differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($4,503 vs $3,845 including rent). Aliso Viejo, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Aliso Viejo, CA earns 44% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,092 in New York, NY versus $2,807 in Aliso Viejo, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $4,503 per month in New York, NY versus $3,845 in Aliso Viejo, CA – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Aliso Viejo, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, New York, NY and Aliso Viejo, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Aliso Viejo, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.