Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Beaufort, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Beaufort, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,864 in New York, NY versus $2,408 in Beaufort, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,367 in New York, NY versus $3,511 in Beaufort, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,870 in New York, NY versus $4,614 in Beaufort, SC.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 102% more expensive than in Beaufort, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 260% above, Beaufort, SC 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.15 $25.15

$18.76 $18.76

34.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$136 $136

$100 $100

35.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.04 $14.04

$12.07 $12.07

16.32%

Cappuccino

$6.41 $6.41

$5.27 $5.27

21.63%

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

$3.86 $3.86

$2.43 $2.43

58.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.96 $1.96

51.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$3.81 $3.81

106.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.87 $9.87

$4.09 $4.09

141.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.91 $0.91

53.85%

White Bread (500g)

$4.62 $4.62

$3.09 $3.09

49.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.16 $7.16

$3.68 $3.68

94.57%

Eggs

$5.87 $5.87

$4.07 $4.07

44.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.58 $17.58

$8.72 $8.72

101.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.63 $15.63

$6.13 $6.13

154.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.94 $17.94

$11.11 $11.11

61.48%

Apples (1kg)

$6.44 $6.44

$4.43 $4.43

45.37%

Banana (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.32 $1.32

70.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$3.91 $3.91

46.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.59 $6.59

$1.99 $1.99

231.16%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.50 $2.50

38.00%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.22 $2.22

82.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.03 $2.03

33.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.40 $2.40

6.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.98 $18.98

$9.68 $9.68

96.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.72 $19.72

$15.27 $15.27

29.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.17 $2.17

45.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 $3.76

$3.21 $3.21

17.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 $2.96

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 $140

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.53 $1.53

100.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.18 $1.18

85.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.40 $41.40

$14.06 $14.06

194.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$0.81 $0.81

38.27%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

36.78%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$20.8K $20.8K

23.12%

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

$232 $232

$94.4 $94.4

145.54%

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

$73.8 $73.8

$60.2 $60.2

22.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.0 $72.0

$69.4 $69.4

3.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$124 $124

$24.94 $24.94

399.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$61.8 $61.8

Cinema Ticket

$23.20 $23.20

$9.94 $9.94

133.40%

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

$3,431 $3,431

$1,311 $1,311

161.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$59.9K $59.9K

$12.1K $12.1K

394.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.5 $71.5

$63.3 $63.3

12.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.4 $53.4

$47.93 $47.93

11.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$114 $114

4.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 $125

$155 $155

-19.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,427 $4,427

$1,562 $1,562

183.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,984 $2,984

$1,340 $1,340

122.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,287 $9,287

$2,783 $2,783

233.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,435 $5,435

$2,117 $2,117

156.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.0K $19.0K

$3,691 $3,691

415.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,677 $3,677

79.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,104 $5,104

$4,100 $4,100

24.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.19

6.14%

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

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

Last update for Beaufort, SC: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,427 in New York, NY and $1,562 in Beaufort, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 24% 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: $136 in New York, NY vs $100 in Beaufort, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $521 vs $313 per month, with Beaufort, SC 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 Beaufort, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Beaufort, SC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 102% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 24% 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: $4,427 in New York, NY versus $1,562 in Beaufort, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 66% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $4,864 per month in New York, NY versus $2,408 in Beaufort, SC – a 102% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Beaufort, SC is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Beaufort, SC is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in New York, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Beaufort, SC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 102% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.