Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Brentwood, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Brentwood, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,503 in New York, NY versus $2,684 in Brentwood, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,077 in New York, NY versus $4,035 in Brentwood, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,650 in New York, NY versus $5,386 in Brentwood, CA.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 68% more expensive than Brentwood, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 236% above, Brentwood, CA 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$29.98 $29.98

1.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$110 $110

29.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$13.82 $13.82

-8.47%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$6.37 $6.37

-8.79%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$3.66 $3.66

-10.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.40 $3.40

-24.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$9.18 $9.18

-10.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$8.91 $8.91

32.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.31 $1.31

16.79%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$4.60 $4.60

14.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$3.14 $3.14

165.61%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$5.39 $5.39

34.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$11.11 $11.11

55.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$11.06 $11.06

46.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$12.86 $12.86

54.12%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$4.50 $4.50

68.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.22 $2.22

9.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$4.43 $4.43

31.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.82 $4.82

32.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.89 $2.89

33.91%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.37 $3.37

20.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.76 $2.76

13.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.66 $2.66

-7.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$8.63 $8.63

123.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$13.07 $13.07

52.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.05 $2.05

45.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.39 $2.39

56.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.05 $2.05

38.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.38 $4.38

16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.90 $1.90

11.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$30.17 $30.17

40.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.26 $1.26

-23.02%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$30.1K $30.1K

15.45%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$26.5K $26.5K

5.10%

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

$181 $181

$217 $217

-16.37%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$39.15 $39.15

53.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$64.2 $64.2

-2.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$43.73 $43.73

227.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$18.14 $18.14

10.14%

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

$3,216 $3,216

$1,134 $1,134

183.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$24.2K $24.2K

136.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$44.45 $44.45

51.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$39.82 $39.82

19.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$77.0 $77.0

44.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$80.8 $80.8

108.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$1,608 $1,608

154.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$1,355 $1,355

98.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$3,885 $3,885

117.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$2,257 $2,257

127.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$2,752 $2,752

560.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

$2,238 $2,238

181.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.67

-3.45%

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

Last update for New York, NY: June 1, 2026

Last update for Brentwood, CA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,092 in New York, NY and $1,608 in Brentwood, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $142 in New York, NY vs $110 in Brentwood, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $398 per month, with Brentwood, CA 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 Brentwood, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY and Brentwood, CA differ by about 68% in total monthly costs ($4,503 vs $2,684 including rent). Brentwood, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $6,754 in New York, NY and $4,026 in Brentwood, CA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,092 in New York, NY versus $1,608 in Brentwood, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $4,503 per month in New York, NY versus $2,684 in Brentwood, CA – a 68% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Brentwood, CA 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.

Safety-wise, New York, NY and Brentwood, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Brentwood, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.