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: $4,878 in New York, NY versus $2,678 in Brentwood, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,262 in New York, NY versus $3,991 in Brentwood, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,645 in New York, NY versus $5,304 in Brentwood, CA.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 82% more expensive than in Brentwood, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 255% above, Brentwood, CA 95% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.20 $25.20

$25.16 $25.16

0.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 $150

$110 $110

36.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.98 $13.98

$14.90 $14.90

-6.17%

Cappuccino

$6.39 $6.39

$5.69 $5.69

12.30%

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

$4.01 $4.01

$2.97 $2.97

35.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.44 $2.44

19.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 $8.01

$9.25 $9.25

-13.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.94 $9.94

$7.83 $7.83

26.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.32 $1.32

0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$4.80 $4.80

$4.25 $4.25

12.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.81 $6.81

$4.80 $4.80

41.87%

Eggs

$5.67 $5.67

$5.31 $5.31

6.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.66 $16.66

$24.71 $24.71

-32.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.82 $14.82

$11.68 $11.68

26.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.90 $18.90

$13.22 $13.22

42.97%

Apples (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$5.40 $5.40

11.67%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$3.10 $3.10

-30.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$4.89 $4.89

15.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.95 $5.95

2.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.28 $3.28

6.40%

Onion (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$3.99 $3.99

3.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.06 $3.06

-12.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.75 $2.75

-6.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.04 $19.04

$7.69 $7.69

147.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.73 $19.73

$12.73 $12.73

54.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.07 $2.07

59.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 $3.97

$2.52 $2.52

57.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.03 $2.03

47.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 $140

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.94 $3.94

-25.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.79 $1.79

18.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.24 $41.24

$30.33 $30.33

35.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.47 $1.47

-24.49%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$30.3K $30.3K

16.14%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.7K $26.7K

-5.58%

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

$218 $218

$207 $207

5.38%

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

$76.5 $76.5

$39.49 $39.49

93.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.0 $76.0

$64.2 $64.2

18.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$128 $128

$41.83 $41.83

205.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.2 $63.2

Cinema Ticket

$23.94 $23.94

$17.96 $17.96

33.30%

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

$3,313 $3,313

$1,594 $1,594

107.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$60.8K $60.8K

$24.0K $24.0K

153.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.0 $74.0

$51.6 $51.6

43.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.3 $56.3

$40.42 $40.42

39.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$73.9 $73.9

57.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$59.0 $59.0

120.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,391 $4,391

$1,610 $1,610

172.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,088 $3,088

$1,278 $1,278

141.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,291 $9,291

$2,489 $2,489

273.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,460 $5,460

$2,111 $2,111

158.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

$2,755 $2,755

600.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,723 $6,723

$2,362 $2,362

184.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,364 $5,364

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.25

2.88%

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 Brentwood, CA: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,391 in New York, NY and $1,610 in Brentwood, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $150 in New York, NY vs $110 in Brentwood, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $512 vs $467 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 82% in total monthly costs ($4,878 vs $2,678 including rent). Brentwood, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $7,317 in New York, NY and $4,017 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: $4,391 in New York, NY versus $1,610 in Brentwood, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $4,878 per month in New York, NY versus $2,678 in Brentwood, CA – a 82% 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 82% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.