Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Bergen County, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Bergen County, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,415 in New York, NY versus $4,067 in Bergen County, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,980 in New York, NY versus $5,206 in Bergen County, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,544 in New York, NY versus $6,346 in Bergen County, NJ.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 9% more expensive than in Bergen County, NJ, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 230% above, Bergen County, NJ 204% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.48 $29.48

$19.99 $19.99

47.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$83.6 $83.6

70.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.41 $12.41

$13.89 $13.89

-10.66%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$5.13 $5.13

18.52%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$2.51 $2.51

32.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.23 $2.23

21.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.17 $8.17

$7.05 $7.05

15.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.04 $12.04

$8.83 $8.83

36.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.26 $1.26

28.57%

White Bread (500g)

$5.08 $5.08

$4.51 $4.51

12.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.12 $8.12

$8.72 $8.72

-6.88%

Eggs

$6.87 $6.87

$4.72 $4.72

45.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$17.23 $17.23

2.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$11.64 $11.64

40.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.81 $19.81

$17.63 $17.63

12.37%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 $7.66

$4.93 $4.93

55.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.76 $1.76

43.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$4.07 $4.07

37.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.27 $4.27

49.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.78 $2.78

38.13%

Onion (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.94 $3.94

4.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.38 $2.38

29.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.14 $2.14

16.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.83 $18.83

$13.33 $13.33

41.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$18.26 $18.26

7.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.75 $1.75

70.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.62 $3.62

3.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$4.10 $4.10

-28.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$167 $167

-20.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 $5.05

$2.92 $2.92

72.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.38 $1.38

59.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.75 $42.75

$24.31 $24.31

75.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.88 $0.88

10.23%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$29.9K $29.9K

17.13%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$25.4K $25.4K

11.25%

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

$182 $182

$130 $130

40.48%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$45.79 $45.79

31.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 $63.5

$65.7 $65.7

-3.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$43.12 $43.12

230.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 $63.6

Cinema Ticket

$19.89 $19.89

$17.08 $17.08

16.45%

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

$3,129 $3,129

$2,290 $2,290

36.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$58.2K $58.2K

$23.4K $23.4K

148.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$73.5 $73.5

-8.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$23.98 $23.98

96.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$86.7 $86.7

29.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$114 $114

53.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,145 $4,145

$2,751 $2,751

50.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,608 $2,608

3.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,255 $8,255

$4,617 $4,617

78.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,298 $5,298

$2,987 $2,987

77.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.5K $18.5K

$3,956 $3,956

368.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,505 $6,505

$3,811 $3,811

70.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,520 $5,520

$5,453 $5,453

1.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.57

-1.98%

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

Last update for New York, NY: July 13, 2026

Last update for Bergen County, NJ: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,145 in New York, NY and $2,751 in Bergen County, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 1% 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: $143 in New York, NY vs $84.0 in Bergen County, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $553 vs $451 per month, with Bergen County, 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 Bergen County, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY and Bergen County, NJ differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($4,415 vs $4,067 including rent). Bergen County, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 1% 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: $4,145 in New York, NY versus $2,751 in Bergen County, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bergen County, NJ – a meal for two runs $84.0 versus $143 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $4,415 per month in New York, NY versus $4,067 in Bergen County, NJ – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $5,000. Bergen County, 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 Bergen County, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.