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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,503 in New York, NY versus $1,993 in Ankeny, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,077 in New York, NY versus $2,892 in Ankeny, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,650 in New York, NY versus $3,790 in Ankeny, IA.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 126% more expensive than Ankeny, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 236% above, Ankeny, IA 49% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$15.25 $15.25

98.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$57.7 $57.7

146.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$11.81 $11.81

7.11%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$6.17 $6.17

-5.83%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.57 $2.57

26.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.57 $1.57

64.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$5.09 $5.09

60.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$7.11 $7.11

66.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.91 $0.91

68.13%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$2.44 $2.44

115.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$2.25 $2.25

270.67%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$3.63 $3.63

99.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$10.90 $10.90

58.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$10.94 $10.94

48.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$14.32 $14.32

38.41%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$4.52 $4.52

67.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.02 $2.02

19.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$4.86 $4.86

19.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.53 $4.53

41.06%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.59 $3.59

7.80%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.33 $3.33

21.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.04 $1.04

200.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$0.67 $0.67

265.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$9.01 $9.01

113.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$15.30 $15.30

30.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.68 $1.68

77.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.41 $3.41

9.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.97 $1.97

44.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$1.99 $1.99

156.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.16 $2.16

-2.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$20.24 $20.24

109.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.83 $0.83

16.87%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

32.34%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$24.1K $24.1K

15.39%

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

$181 $181

$146 $146

23.96%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$49.88 $49.88

20.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$62.9 $62.9

-0.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$42.89 $42.89

233.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$15.13 $15.13

32.06%

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

$3,216 $3,216

$1,088 $1,088

195.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$11.7K $11.7K

390.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$49.04 $49.04

37.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$34.51 $34.51

38.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$84.5 $84.5

31.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$94.0 $94.0

79.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$924 $924

342.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$916 $916

194.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$1,850 $1,850

356.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$1,353 $1,353

278.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

$5,274 $5,274

5.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.54

-1.53%

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 Ankeny, IA: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,092 in New York, NY and $924 in Ankeny, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 5% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $142 in New York, NY vs $58.0 in Ankeny, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $340 per month, with Ankeny, IA 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 Ankeny, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY and Ankeny, IA differ by about 126% in total monthly costs ($4,503 vs $1,993 including rent). Ankeny, IA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

New York, NY pays 5% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,092 in New York, NY versus $924 in Ankeny, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 63% 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 $1,993 in Ankeny, IA – a 126% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,993 in Ankeny, IA versus $4,503 in New York, NY, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Ankeny, IA but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Ankeny, IA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Ankeny, IA 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 Ankeny, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 126% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.