Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Appleton, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Appleton, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,437 per month in New York, NY vs $2,151 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,995 per month in New York, NY vs $3,203 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,552 per month in New York, NY vs $4,256 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 106% more than Appleton, WI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both New York, NY and Appleton, WI sit above the global median – New York, NY by 229%, Appleton, WI by 60%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.14 $30.14

$18.06 $18.06

66.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 $147

$57.0 $57.0

158.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.62 $12.62

$9.84 $9.84

28.25%

Cappuccino

$6.00 $6.00

$5.08 $5.08

18.11%

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

$3.35 $3.35

$2.49 $2.49

34.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.95 $1.95

32.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.18 $8.18

$4.49 $4.49

82.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.99 $11.99

$4.85 $4.85

147.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 $1.61

$0.98 $0.98

64.29%

White Bread (500g)

$5.03 $5.03

$4.14 $4.14

21.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.40 $8.40

$5.58 $5.58

50.54%

Eggs

$7.10 $7.10

$4.53 $4.53

56.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.38 $17.38

$14.24 $14.24

22.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.18 $16.18

$15.32 $15.32

5.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.48 $20.48

$11.53 $11.53

77.62%

Apples (1kg)

$7.36 $7.36

$5.20 $5.20

41.54%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.29 $1.29

98.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$4.17 $4.17

36.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.24 $6.24

$4.57 $4.57

36.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.46 $2.46

57.32%

Onion (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.69 $2.69

52.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.47 $2.47

22.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.38 $1.38

84.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.07 $19.07

$15.14 $15.14

25.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.66 $19.66

$15.07 $15.07

30.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.71 $1.71

74.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.46 $3.46

8.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.48 $2.48

18.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

$34.75 $34.75

275.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.34 $3.34

51.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.41 $1.41

55.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.49 $41.49

$24.77 $24.77

67.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.80 $0.80

22.50%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$22.9K $22.9K

51.01%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$24.4K $24.4K

15.93%

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

$184 $184

$158 $158

16.95%

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

$59.0 $59.0

$44.21 $44.21

33.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$65.8 $65.8

-5.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$16.91 $16.91

731.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

Cinema Ticket

$20.13 $20.13

$14.23 $14.23

41.46%

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

$3,191 $3,191

$2,027 $2,027

57.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.5K $57.5K

$39.6K $39.6K

45.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.2 $67.2

$39.95 $39.95

68.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.98 $47.98

$24.94 $24.94

92.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$89.9 $89.9

23.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$170 $170

$108 $108

57.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,207 $4,207

$1,492 $1,492

181.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,717 $2,717

$992 $992

173.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,382 $8,382

$1,829 $1,829

358.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,127 $5,127

$1,636 $1,636

213.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.5K $19.5K

$2,324 $2,324

741.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,862 $8,862

$2,240 $2,240

295.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,228 $5,228

$3,952 $3,952

32.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.52

-1.23%

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

Last update for New York, NY: April 11, 2026

Last update for Appleton, WI: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,207 in New York, NY versus $1,492 in Appleton, WI. 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 32% 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 $147 in New York, NY versus $57 in Appleton, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $553 vs $404 – making Appleton, WI 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 Appleton, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 106%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,655 per month in New York, NY and $3,227 in Appleton, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Appleton, WI, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,437 in New York, NY and $2,151 in Appleton, WI. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 276% less in Appleton, WI. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,437 in New York, NY and $2,151 in Appleton, WI. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Appleton, WI – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Appleton, WI. 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.