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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: New York, NY is 19.4% more expensive than Arlington, VA without rent, and 24.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: New York, NY is 22.2% more expensive than Arlington, VA without rent, and 35.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
New York, NY
Arlington, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$24.54 $24.54
20.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$88.5 $88.5
62.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$11.84 $11.84
4.98%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.41 $5.41
7.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.93 $2.93
11.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.5 $2.5
3.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$8.02 $8.02
2.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$8.82 $8.82
34.47%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Arlington, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.24 $1.24
25.81%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$4.1 $4.1
27.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$6.81 $6.81
19.09%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$4.32 $4.32
67.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$17.79 $17.79
-3.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$14.75 $14.75
10.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$21.38 $21.38
-6.36%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$6.26 $6.26
19.65%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.06 $2.06
23.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$5.22 $5.22
11.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$5.71 $5.71
14.19%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.44 $3.44
8.14%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$3.39 $3.39
15.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.65 $2.65
15.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.45 $2.45
4.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$12.3 $12.3
56.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$17.17 $17.17
3.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.03 $2.03
48.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$4.29 $4.29
-13.29%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
New York, NY
Arlington, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.43 $3.43
-14.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
$125 $125
6.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$3.02 $3.02
69.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.59 $1.59
35.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$21.75 $21.75
91.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$0.91 $0.91
4.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35K $35K
$29.6K $29.6K
18.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$26K $26K
6.41%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Arlington, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$205 $205
-12.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$59.8 $59.8
0.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$69.9 $69.9
-8.67%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Arlington, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$76.7 $76.7
83.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
$23.96 $23.96
166.69%
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$14.84 $14.84
34.10%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Arlington, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$2,074 $2,074
54.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$39.4K $39.4K
43.35%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Arlington, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$55.9 $55.9
17.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$49.48 $49.48
-1.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$92.6 $92.6
20.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$141 $141
21.48%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Arlington, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$2,473 $2,473
68.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$1,930 $1,930
37.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$4,350 $4,350
93.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$3,575 $3,575
47.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$4,644 $4,644
236.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$4,073 $4,073
173.94%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Arlington, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$6,454 $6,454
-12.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.55
-1.68%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

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

Last update for Arlington, VA: October 28, 2025

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