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: $4,878 in New York, NY versus $4,259 in Bergen County, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,262 in New York, NY versus $5,407 in Bergen County, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,645 in New York, NY versus $6,555 in Bergen County, NJ.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 15% more expensive than in Bergen County, NJ, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 255% above, Bergen County, NJ 210% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.20 $25.20

$22.15 $22.15

13.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 $150

$83.8 $83.8

79.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.98 $13.98

$12.57 $12.57

11.22%

Cappuccino

$6.39 $6.39

$5.30 $5.30

20.57%

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

$4.01 $4.01

$3.02 $3.02

32.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.24 $2.24

29.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 $8.01

$7.86 $7.86

1.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.94 $9.94

$8.03 $8.03

23.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.41 $1.41

-5.67%

White Bread (500g)

$4.80 $4.80

$4.52 $4.52

6.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.81 $6.81

$8.68 $8.68

-21.54%

Eggs

$5.67 $5.67

$5.29 $5.29

7.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.66 $16.66

$12.52 $12.52

33.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.82 $14.82

$11.65 $11.65

27.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.90 $18.90

$17.38 $17.38

8.75%

Apples (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$5.37 $5.37

12.29%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.69 $1.69

27.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$5.03 $5.03

12.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.08 $5.08

19.49%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.78 $2.78

25.54%

Onion (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$3.15 $3.15

31.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.38 $2.38

12.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.46 $2.46

4.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.04 $19.04

$13.15 $13.15

44.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.73 $19.73

$23.64 $23.64

-16.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.30 $3.30

$1.72 $1.72

91.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 $3.97

$4.44 $4.44

-10.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.99 $2.99

$4.14 $4.14

-27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 $140

$168 $168

-16.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.68 $2.68

9.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.54 $1.54

37.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.24 $41.24

$23.59 $23.59

74.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.06 $1.06

4.72%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$36.7K $36.7K

-4.05%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$25.0K $25.0K

0.64%

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

$218 $218

$207 $207

5.48%

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

$76.5 $76.5

$77.1 $77.1

-0.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.0 $76.0

$67.5 $67.5

12.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$128 $128

$101 $101

27.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.2 $63.2

$49.77 $49.77

27.00%

Cinema Ticket

$23.94 $23.94

$14.88 $14.88

60.89%

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

$3,313 $3,313

$2,257 $2,257

46.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$60.8K $60.8K

$23.8K $23.8K

156.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.0 $74.0

$49.41 $49.41

49.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.3 $56.3

$46.40 $46.40

21.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$79.7 $79.7

46.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$150 $150

-13.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,391 $4,391

$2,729 $2,729

60.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,088 $3,088

$2,678 $2,678

15.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,291 $9,291

$4,703 $4,703

97.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,460 $5,460

$2,956 $2,956

84.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

$3,914 $3,914

392.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,723 $6,723

$3,785 $3,785

77.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,364 $5,364

$5,352 $5,352

0.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.16

4.38%

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

Last update for New York, NY: August 29, 2026

Last update for Bergen County, NJ: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,391 in New York, NY and $2,729 in Bergen County, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 0% 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: $150 in New York, NY vs $84.0 in Bergen County, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $512 vs $464 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 15% in total monthly costs ($4,878 vs $4,259 including rent). Bergen County, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 0% 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: $4,391 in New York, NY versus $2,729 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 $150 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $4,878 per month in New York, NY versus $4,259 in Bergen County, NJ – a 15% 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 15% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.