Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Amherst, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Amherst, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,503 per month in New York, NY vs $2,650 in Amherst, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,077 per month in New York, NY vs $3,873 in Amherst, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,650 per month in New York, NY vs $5,097 in Amherst, NY, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 70% more than Amherst, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Amherst, NY sit above the global median – New York, NY by 236%, Amherst, NY by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$18.34 $18.34

65.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$86.2 $86.2

65.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$11.95 $11.95

5.86%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$5.39 $5.39

7.79%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.20 $2.20

48.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.97 $1.97

30.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$6.97 $6.97

17.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$7.70 $7.70

53.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.96 $0.96

59.38%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$3.83 $3.83

37.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$4.71 $4.71

77.07%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$4.04 $4.04

79.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$12.76 $12.76

35.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$8.15 $8.15

98.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$12.14 $12.14

63.26%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$4.05 $4.05

86.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.20 $1.20

101.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$5.39 $5.39

8.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.04 $5.04

26.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.59 $2.59

49.42%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.64 $3.64

11.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.48 $2.48

25.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.50 $2.50

-2.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$12.29 $12.29

56.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$15.12 $15.12

32.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.70 $1.70

75.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$4.61 $4.61

-19.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.99 $1.99

42.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.96 $3.96

29.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.88 $1.88

12.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$29.98 $29.98

41.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.95 $0.95

2.11%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$28.0K $28.0K

24.18%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$24.4K $24.4K

13.92%

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

$181 $181

$237 $237

-23.62%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$45.85 $45.85

31.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$61.4 $61.4

1.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$42.66 $42.66

235.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

$20.30 $20.30

221.48%

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$13.84 $13.84

44.36%

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

$3,216 $3,216

$900 $900

257.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$17.3K $17.3K

230.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$46.22 $46.22

46.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$45.42 $45.42

4.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$95.2 $95.2

16.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$114 $114

48.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$1,604 $1,604

155.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$1,341 $1,341

100.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$2,650 $2,650

218.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$2,207 $2,207

132.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$3,209 $3,209

466.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

$4,382 $4,382

43.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

$4,113 $4,113

34.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.42

0.31%

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 Amherst, NY: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,092 in New York, NY versus $1,604 in Amherst, 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 35% higher in New York, NY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $142 in New York, NY versus $86.0 in Amherst, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $376 – making Amherst, NY 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

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

New York, NY costs about 70% more than Amherst, NY, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,754 per month in New York, NY and $3,975 in Amherst, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Amherst, NY, 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 $142 in New York, NY and $86.0 in Amherst, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 48% 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,503 in New York, NY and $2,650 in Amherst, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Amherst, NY costs $2,650 versus $4,503 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Amherst, NY. 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.