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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,443 in New York, NY versus $2,241 in Augusta, ME.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,945 in New York, NY versus $3,281 in Augusta, ME.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,447 in New York, NY versus $4,322 in Augusta, ME.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 98% more expensive than in Augusta, ME, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 234% above, Augusta, ME 68% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.45 $30.45

$20.25 $20.25

50.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$146 $146

$75.1 $75.1

94.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.71 $12.71

$7.62 $7.62

66.80%

Cappuccino

$5.87 $5.87

$4.92 $4.92

19.31%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$2.34 $2.34

37.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.95 $1.95

38.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$5.13 $5.13

59.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.89 $11.89

$5.92 $5.92

100.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.10 $1.10

41.82%

White Bread (500g)

$5.01 $5.01

$3.49 $3.49

43.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.33 $8.33

$1.84 $1.84

352.72%

Eggs

$7.02 $7.02

$3.80 $3.80

84.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$17.04 $17.04

2.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.72 $16.72

$11.98 $11.98

39.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.01 $20.01

$18.48 $18.48

8.28%

Apples (1kg)

$7.72 $7.72

$4.41 $4.41

75.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.31 $1.31

88.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$3.15 $3.15

81.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$6.65 $6.65

-3.46%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.22 $2.22

68.92%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.26 $3.26

19.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.83 $2.83

7.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.54 $1.54

66.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.84 $18.84

$8.83 $8.83

113.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$13.44 $13.44

46.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.84 $2.84

5.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$1.95 $1.95

98.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.96 $1.96

46.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$2.53 $2.53

101.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.25 $1.25

76.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.93 $41.93

$27.68 $27.68

51.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.90 $0.90

8.89%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$29.6K $29.6K

19.40%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$25.4K $25.4K

8.32%

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

$184 $184

$193 $193

-4.78%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$58.7 $58.7

2.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 $62.4

$76.5 $76.5

-18.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$30.06 $30.06

364.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.0 $65.0

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$12.75 $12.75

59.45%

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

$3,153 $3,153

$2,743 $2,743

14.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.8K $56.8K

$27.8K $27.8K

104.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$66.1 $66.1

2.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.89 $47.89

$44.12 $44.12

8.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$85.0 $85.0

35.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$146 $146

19.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,125 $4,125

$1,040 $1,040

296.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,685 $2,685

$934 $934

187.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,262 $8,262

$1,598 $1,598

417.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,258 $5,258

$1,494 $1,494

251.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

$2,397 $2,397

679.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$2,399 $2,399

169.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,584 $5,584

$1,994 $1,994

180.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.43

0.16%

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 Augusta, ME: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,125 in New York, NY and $1,040 in Augusta, ME. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 180% 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 Augusta, ME for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $555 vs $399 per month, with Augusta, ME 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 Augusta, ME: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY and Augusta, ME differ by about 98% in total monthly costs ($4,443 vs $2,241 including rent). Augusta, ME is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 180% 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 $1,040 in Augusta, ME. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,153 in New York, NY versus $2,743 in Augusta, ME. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Augusta, ME – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $146 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,241 in Augusta, ME versus $4,443 in New York, NY, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Augusta, ME but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Augusta, ME the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Augusta, ME gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.