Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Augusta, GA

For one person, living is cheaper in Augusta, GA: $2,189 a month against $4,941 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $33,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New York, NY, United States
Augusta, GA, United States
New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,941
/mo nomad
Augusta, GA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,189
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New York, NY and in Augusta, GA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in New York, NY and in Augusta, GA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,941 in New York, NY versus $2,189 in Augusta, GA.

  • New York, NY $4,941
  • Augusta, GA $2,189

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,225 in New York, NY versus $3,126 in Augusta, GA.

  • New York, NY $7,225
  • Augusta, GA $3,126

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,509 in New York, NY versus $4,062 in Augusta, GA.

  • New York, NY $9,509
  • Augusta, GA $4,062

Living in New York, NY is roughly 126% more expensive than in Augusta, GA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 263% above, Augusta, GA 61% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Augusta, GA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.55 $28.55
$17.88 $17.88
59.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$99.5 $99.5
19.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.04 $15.04
$9.57 $9.57
57.16%
Cappuccino
$6.53 $6.53
$6.60 $6.60
-1.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 $3.96
$2.73 $2.73
45.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.62 $1.62
85.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.16 $8.16
$5.39 $5.39
51.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.84 $9.84
$8.12 $8.12
21.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Augusta, GA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 $1.37
$0.76 $0.76
80.26%
White Bread (500g)
$4.97 $4.97
$2.20 $2.20
125.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.81 $7.81
$4.14 $4.14
88.65%
Eggs
$5.97 $5.97
$3.89 $3.89
53.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.91 $18.91
$11.30 $11.30
67.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.04 $18.04
$8.74 $8.74
106.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.05 $19.05
$14.57 $14.57
30.75%
Apples (1kg)
$6.76 $6.76
$4.34 $4.34
55.76%
Banana (1kg)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.23 $1.23
84.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.83 $6.83
$3.74 $3.74
82.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.09 $7.09
$2.62 $2.62
170.61%
Potato (1kg)
$4.22 $4.22
$1.75 $1.75
141.14%
Onion (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$2.87 $2.87
62.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.87 $1.87
53.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.60 $2.60
$2.23 $2.23
16.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.77 $18.77
$8.83 $8.83
112.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.13 $20.13
$10.21 $10.21
97.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.45 $3.45
$1.77 $1.77
94.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02 $4.02
$5.20 $5.20
-22.69%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Augusta, GA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.35 $1.35
115.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$139 $139
$45.67 $45.67
204.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 $3.08
$1.95 $1.95
57.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.12 $2.12
$1.26 $1.26
68.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.96 $41.96
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$0.95 $0.95
23.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K $34.5K
$27.6K $27.6K
25.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$27.4K $27.4K
-5.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Augusta, GA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$152 $152
44.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$74.2 $74.2
$60.1 $60.1
23.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.2 $70.2
$92.6 $92.6
-24.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Augusta, GA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$112 $112
$17.30 $17.30
547.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$74.9 $74.9
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.14 $22.14
$15.24 $15.24
45.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Augusta, GA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,558 $3,558
$917 $917
288.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$62.2K $62.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Augusta, GA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.6 $75.6
$48.68 $48.68
55.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.2 $51.2
$38.16 $38.16
34.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 $123
$74.7 $74.7
64.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 $140
$73.8 $73.8
89.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Augusta, GA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,499 $4,499
$1,372 $1,372
227.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,078 $3,078
$1,035 $1,035
197.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$9,447 $9,447
$1,804 $1,804
423.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,190 $5,190
$1,373 $1,373
278.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$18.1K $18.1K
$1,932 $1,932
837.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,693 $6,693
$1,486 $1,486
350.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Augusta, GA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,220 $5,220
$3,225 $3,225
61.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.86
6.7
2.39%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 26, 2026

Last update for Augusta, GA: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3.1K
Augusta, GA
$1K 66.4% $2K
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$563
Augusta, GA
$325 42.3% $238
Eating Out
New York, NY
$440
Augusta, GA
$312 29.2% $129
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$364
Augusta, GA
$305 16.2% $59
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$175
Augusta, GA
$106 39.6% $69
Getting Around
New York, NY
$164
Augusta, GA
$59 63.9% $105
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$156
Augusta, GA
$48 69.4% $108

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,499 in New York, NY and $1,372 in Augusta, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 62% 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: $118 in New York, NY vs $100 in Augusta, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $563 vs $325 per month, with Augusta, GA cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇺🇸 Augusta, GA
🕒 Local time
05:42 5:42 AM
05:42 5:42 AM
Same time as New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
194,343
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New York, NY Augusta, GA 1,050 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • New York, NY
  • Augusta, GA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Augusta, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Augusta, GA cheaper than New York, NY?
Augusta, GA is about 56% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: New York, NY or Augusta, GA?
Average pay runs 62% 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.
What is the rent difference between New York, NY and Augusta, GA?
Rent for a central apartment: $4,499 in New York, NY versus $1,372 in Augusta, GA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in New York, NY and in Augusta, GA?
Supermarket bills run roughly 73% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in New York, NY or in Augusta, GA?
Dining out is cheaper in Augusta, GA – a meal for two runs $100 versus $118 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in New York, NY or in Augusta, GA?
At $2,189 in Augusta, GA versus $4,941 in New York, NY, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Augusta, GA but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Augusta, GA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in New York, NY or in Augusta, GA?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Augusta, GA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

New York, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?