Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Atlantic City, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Atlantic City, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,443 in New York, NY versus $2,408 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,945 in New York, NY versus $3,602 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,447 in New York, NY versus $4,796 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 84% more expensive than in Atlantic City, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 234% above, Atlantic City, NJ 81% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.45 $30.45

$24.72 $24.72

23.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$146 $146

$60.2 $60.2

142.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.71 $12.71

$12.06 $12.06

5.39%

Cappuccino

$5.87 $5.87

$5.50 $5.50

6.73%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$2.82 $2.82

14.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.52 $2.52

7.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$7.10 $7.10

15.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.89 $11.89

$8.84 $8.84

34.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.22 $1.22

27.87%

White Bread (500g)

$5.01 $5.01

$4.04 $4.04

24.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.33 $8.33

$8.30 $8.30

0.36%

Eggs

$7.02 $7.02

$6.53 $6.53

7.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$17.12 $17.12

1.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.72 $16.72

$16.61 $16.61

0.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.01 $20.01

$19.92 $19.92

0.45%

Apples (1kg)

$7.72 $7.72

$4.49 $4.49

71.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.44 $2.44

1.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$5.73 $5.73

-0.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$6.33 $6.33

1.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.83 $3.83

-2.09%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.12 $4.12

-5.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.04 $2.04

49.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.05 $2.05

25.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.84 $18.84

$19.15 $19.15

-1.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$14.72 $14.72

33.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$3.04 $3.04

-1.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.89 $3.89

-0.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.98 $1.98

45.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.89 $4.89

4.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.12 $2.12

3.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.93 $41.93

$41.92 $41.92

0.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.87 $0.87

12.64%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$35.0K $35.0K

1.09%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$27.8K $27.8K

-1.23%

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

$184 $184

-0.10%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$60.9 $60.9

-1.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 $62.4

$54.9 $54.9

13.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$42.35 $42.35

229.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.0 $65.0

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$14.63 $14.63

38.96%

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

$3,153 $3,153

$3,114 $3,114

1.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.8K $56.8K

$23.3K $23.3K

143.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$43.12 $43.12

57.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.89 $47.89

$40.63 $40.63

17.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$59.8 $59.8

92.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$74.8 $74.8

132.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,125 $4,125

$1,381 $1,381

198.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,685 $2,685

$982 $982

173.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,262 $8,262

$1,992 $1,992

314.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,258 $5,258

$1,857 $1,857

183.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

$3,567 $3,567

423.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$3,547 $3,547

82.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,584 $5,584

$3,983 $3,983

40.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

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 Atlantic City, NJ: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,125 in New York, NY and $1,381 in Atlantic City, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 40% 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 $60.0 in Atlantic City, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $555 vs $503 per month, with Atlantic City, NJ 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 Atlantic City, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY and Atlantic City, NJ differ by about 84% in total monthly costs ($4,443 vs $2,408 including rent). Atlantic City, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 40% 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 $1,381 in Atlantic City, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,153 in New York, NY versus $3,114 in Atlantic City, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Atlantic City, NJ – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $146 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Atlantic City, NJ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Expats usually find Atlantic City, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.