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: $4,662 in New York, NY versus $2,336 in Beaufort, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,098 in New York, NY versus $3,514 in Beaufort, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,533 in New York, NY versus $4,692 in Beaufort, SC.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 100% more expensive than in Beaufort, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 243% above, Beaufort, SC 72% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.61 $24.61

$18.60 $18.60

32.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$137 $137

$101 $101

35.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.08 $13.08

$11.96 $11.96

9.36%

Cappuccino

$6.28 $6.28

$5.35 $5.35

17.38%

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

$3.69 $3.69

$2.43 $2.43

51.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.04 $2.04

41.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.10 $8.10

$3.70 $3.70

118.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.94 $9.94

$4.04 $4.04

146.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$0.91 $0.91

43.96%

White Bread (500g)

$4.72 $4.72

$3.12 $3.12

51.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.63 $6.63

$3.63 $3.63

82.64%

Eggs

$5.69 $5.69

$3.89 $3.89

46.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.09 $16.09

$8.65 $8.65

86.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.43 $14.43

$6.28 $6.28

129.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.74 $17.74

$11.12 $11.12

59.53%

Apples (1kg)

$5.85 $5.85

$4.70 $4.70

24.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.29 $1.29

63.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.62 $5.62

$3.76 $3.76

49.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$1.98 $1.98

203.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.47 $2.47

29.96%

Onion (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.21 $2.21

83.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.06 $2.06

27.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.37 $2.37

2.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$9.95 $9.95

87.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.64 $19.64

$14.68 $14.68

33.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.07 $2.07

51.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.09 $3.09

25.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.04 $3.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.46 $1.46

108.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.14 $1.14

86.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.63 $42.63

$13.97 $13.97

205.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.74 $0.74

44.59%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$25.5K $25.5K

40.29%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$20.9K $20.9K

22.55%

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

$233 $233

$91.5 $91.5

155.04%

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

$72.4 $72.4

$56.6 $56.6

27.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$65.7 $65.7

15.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$116 $116

$24.52 $24.52

372.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$61.7 $61.7

Cinema Ticket

$22.62 $22.62

$9.94 $9.94

127.57%

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

$3,386 $3,386

$1,318 $1,318

156.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$59.6K $59.6K

$12.1K $12.1K

392.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.4 $70.4

$55.0 $55.0

27.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$42.70 $42.70

22.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$103 $103

13.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$132 $132

-4.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,416 $4,416

$1,551 $1,551

184.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,915 $2,915

$1,360 $1,360

114.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,854 $8,854

$2,794 $2,794

216.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,108 $2,108

148.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K $18.8K

$3,595 $3,595

422.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,513 $6,513

$3,650 $3,650

78.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,339 $5,339

$4,209 $4,209

26.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.41

6.13

4.57%

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

Last update for New York, NY: August 10, 2026

Last update for Beaufort, SC: August 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,416 in New York, NY and $1,551 in Beaufort, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 27% 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: $137 in New York, NY vs $101 in Beaufort, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $498 vs $312 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, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 100% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 27% 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: $4,416 in New York, NY versus $1,551 in Beaufort, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 60% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $4,662 per month in New York, NY versus $2,336 in Beaufort, SC – a 100% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,336 in Beaufort, SC versus $4,662 in New York, NY, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Beaufort, SC but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Beaufort, SC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 100% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.