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: $4,438 in New York, NY versus $2,783 in Brentwood, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,016 in New York, NY versus $4,148 in Brentwood, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,593 in New York, NY versus $5,513 in Brentwood, CA.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 59% more expensive than Brentwood, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 231% above, Brentwood, CA 108% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.91 $29.91

$29.75 $29.75

0.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 $144

$111 $111

29.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$13.90 $13.90

-11.37%

Cappuccino

$6.03 $6.03

$6.21 $6.21

-2.90%

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

$3.39 $3.39

$3.64 $3.64

-6.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.42 $3.42

-25.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.20 $8.20

$9.08 $9.08

-9.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.95 $11.95

$8.78 $8.78

36.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.31 $1.31

17.56%

White Bread (500g)

$5.15 $5.15

$4.69 $4.69

9.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.43 $8.43

$3.21 $3.21

162.62%

Eggs

$6.97 $6.97

$5.42 $5.42

28.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.28 $17.28

$11.12 $11.12

55.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$10.89 $10.89

49.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.95 $19.95

$12.64 $12.64

57.83%

Apples (1kg)

$7.45 $7.45

$4.69 $4.69

58.85%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.23 $2.23

8.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$4.34 $4.34

35.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$4.97 $4.97

26.96%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.98 $2.98

24.83%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.50 $3.50

14.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.78 $2.78

14.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.64 $2.64

-3.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.09 $19.09

$8.53 $8.53

123.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.24 $20.24

$14.71 $14.71

37.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.14 $2.14

39.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.36 $2.36

63.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.06 $2.06

43.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 $5.13

$4.45 $4.45

15.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.88 $1.88

17.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.64 $42.64

$29.60 $29.60

44.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.20 $1.20

-20.83%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$29.6K $29.6K

16.40%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$27.0K $27.0K

4.51%

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

$182 $182

$218 $218

-16.75%

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

$60.1 $60.1

$39.11 $39.11

53.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$62.9 $62.9

-1.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$43.67 $43.67

220.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.4 $64.4

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$18.18 $18.18

11.83%

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

$3,222 $3,222

$1,153 $1,153

179.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.2K $56.2K

$24.3K $24.3K

131.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.9 $65.9

$44.85 $44.85

47.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$40.26 $40.26

17.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$78.4 $78.4

41.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$173 $173

$80.6 $80.6

114.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,208 $4,208

$1,611 $1,611

161.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,647 $2,647

$1,372 $1,372

92.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,415 $8,415

$3,902 $3,902

115.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,170 $5,170

$2,220 $2,220

132.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.1K $20.1K

$2,987 $2,987

572.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,742 $8,742

$2,107 $2,107

314.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,144 $5,144

$5,001 $5,001

2.86%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Brentwood, CA: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,208 in New York, NY and $1,611 in Brentwood, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 3% 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: $144 in New York, NY vs $111 in Brentwood, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $403 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 59% in total monthly costs ($4,438 vs $2,783 including rent). Brentwood, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

New York, NY pays 3% more on average, 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: $4,208 in New York, NY versus $1,611 in Brentwood, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $4,438 per month in New York, NY versus $2,783 in Brentwood, CA – a 59% 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 59% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.