Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Arlington, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Arlington, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,443 in New York, NY versus $2,344 in Arlington, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,945 in New York, NY versus $3,813 in Arlington, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,447 in New York, NY versus $5,283 in Arlington, TX.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 90% more expensive than in Arlington, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 234% above, Arlington, TX 76% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.45 $30.45

$20.14 $20.14

51.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$146 $146

$75.5 $75.5

93.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.71 $12.71

$10.03 $10.03

26.72%

Cappuccino

$5.87 $5.87

$5.70 $5.70

2.98%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$2.61 $2.61

23.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.00 $2.00

35.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$4.90 $4.90

67.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.89 $11.89

$6.85 $6.85

73.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$0.93 $0.93

67.74%

White Bread (500g)

$5.01 $5.01

$3.46 $3.46

44.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.33 $8.33

$4.10 $4.10

103.17%

Eggs

$7.02 $7.02

$3.53 $3.53

98.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$11.97 $11.97

45.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.72 $16.72

$11.63 $11.63

43.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.01 $20.01

$14.64 $14.64

36.68%

Apples (1kg)

$7.72 $7.72

$5.00 $5.00

54.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.70 $1.70

45.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$4.60 $4.60

24.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$4.10 $4.10

56.59%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.39 $2.39

56.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.74 $2.74

42.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.00 $2.00

52.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.15 $2.15

19.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.84 $18.84

$8.95 $8.95

110.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$14.78 $14.78

33.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.06 $2.06

45.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$4.47 $4.47

-13.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 $2.88

$5.13 $5.13

-43.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$40.53 $40.53

227.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.28 $4.28

19.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.22 $1.22

80.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.93 $41.93

$24.23 $24.23

73.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.77 $0.77

27.27%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$25.2K $25.2K

40.25%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$26.3K $26.3K

4.48%

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

$184 $184

$201 $201

-8.26%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$58.6 $58.6

2.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 $62.4

$66.9 $66.9

-6.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$41.74 $41.74

234.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.0 $65.0

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$13.35 $13.35

52.28%

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

$3,153 $3,153

$1,410 $1,410

123.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.8K $56.8K

$21.9K $21.9K

159.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$56.3 $56.3

20.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.89 $47.89

$45.25 $45.25

5.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$86.3 $86.3

33.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$117 $117

48.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,125 $4,125

$1,570 $1,570

162.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,685 $2,685

$1,068 $1,068

151.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,262 $8,262

$2,764 $2,764

198.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,258 $5,258

$2,335 $2,335

125.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

$2,194 $2,194

750.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$2,190 $2,190

195.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,584 $5,584

$3,682 $3,682

51.67%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Arlington, TX: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,125 in New York, NY and $1,570 in Arlington, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 52% 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: $146 in New York, NY vs $75.0 in Arlington, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $555 vs $382 per month, with Arlington, TX 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 Arlington, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arlington, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 90% lower than in New York, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Arlington, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 52% higher in New York, NY, 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: $4,125 in New York, NY versus $1,570 in Arlington, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,443 per month in New York, NY versus $2,344 in Arlington, TX – a 90% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Arlington, TX runs roughly 228% less than in New York, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Arlington, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Arlington, TX delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,344 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Arlington, TX hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Arlington, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.