Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Ames, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Ames, IA

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 41.5% more expensive than Ames, IA without rent, and 114.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 66.7% more expensive than Ames, IA without rent, and 130.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.68 $29.68

$18.07 $18.07

64.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 $144

$44.34 $44.34

225.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.43 $12.43

$9.04 $9.04

37.50%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.27 $5.27

10.82%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$1.95 $1.95

67.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.74 $1.74

48.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.24 $8.24

$2.99 $2.99

175.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.86 $11.86

$6.94 $6.94

70.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.01 $1.01

54.46%

White Bread (500g)

$5.23 $5.23

$3.65 $3.65

43.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.11 $8.11

$3.11 $3.11

160.77%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$3.29 $3.29

120.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.08 $17.08

$9.44 $9.44

80.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$11.6 $11.6

40.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.02 $20.02

$14.09 $14.09

42.09%

Apples (1kg)

$7.49 $7.49

$5.09 $5.09

47.15%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.15 $1.15

121.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.82 $5.82

$5.79 $5.79

0.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$5.1 $5.1

27.84%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.76 $3.76

-1.06%

Onion (1kg)

$3.9 $3.9

$3.75 $3.75

4.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.99 $1.99

54.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.97 $1.97

30.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.21 $19.21

$9 $9

113.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.79 $17.79

$16.23 $16.23

9.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 $3.01

$1.71 $1.71

76.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.38 $4.38

-15.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.49 $1.49

95.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$47.13 $47.13

184.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 $5.13

$4.9 $4.9

4.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.39 $1.39

54.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.57 $41.57

$49.16 $49.16

-15.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.8 $0.8

18.75%

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

$35K $35K

$24.7K $24.7K

41.83%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.5K $25.5K

8.52%

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

$179 $179

$189 $189

-5.52%

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

$60 $60

$48.48 $48.48

23.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$74.3 $74.3

-14.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$68.5 $68.5

105.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.9 $63.9

$19.74 $19.74

223.71%

Cinema Ticket

$19.9 $19.9

$13.9 $13.9

43.17%

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

$3,206 $3,206

$1,470 $1,470

118.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.5K $56.5K

$30.2K $30.2K

86.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.7 $65.7

$38.64 $38.64

70.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.75 $48.75

$42.65 $42.65

14.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$84.4 $84.4

31.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$116 $116

48.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,165 $4,165

$989 $989

321.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,653 $2,653

$837 $837

217.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,412 $8,412

$1,931 $1,931

335.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,277 $5,277

$1,676 $1,676

214.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$15.6K $15.6K

$2,346 $2,346

565.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.2K $11.2K

$2,182 $2,182

411.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,616 $5,616

$3,732 $3,732

50.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.02

6.98%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

Last update for Ames, IA: October 28, 2025

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