😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,503 in New York, NY versus $2,645 in Brockton, MA.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,077 in New York, NY versus $3,820 in Brockton, MA.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,650 in New York, NY versus $4,994 in Brockton, MA.
😐Living in New York, NY is roughly 70% more expensive than Brockton, MA, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY236% above, Brockton, MA97% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Brockton, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.28$30.28
$14.77$14.77
105.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$142$142
$65.7$65.7
116.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.65$12.65
$7.37$7.37
71.64%
Cappuccino
$5.81$5.81
$4.05$4.05
43.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26$3.26
$2.19$2.19
48.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58$2.58
$1.52$1.52
69.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.19$8.19
$6.03$6.03
35.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.82$11.82
$7.04$7.04
67.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Brockton, MA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53$1.53
$0.92$0.92
66.30%
White Bread(500g)
$5.27$5.27
$3.33$3.33
58.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$8.34$8.34
$5.68$5.68
46.83%
Eggs
$7.25$7.25
$3.79$3.79
91.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.29$17.29
$17.57$17.57
-1.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.21$16.21
$13.81$13.81
17.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.82$19.82
$19.22$19.22
3.12%
Apples(1kg)
$7.57$7.57
$3.71$3.71
104.04%
Banana(1kg)
$2.42$2.42
$1.45$1.45
66.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.83$5.83
$3.93$3.93
48.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.39$6.39
$4.06$4.06
57.39%
Potato(1kg)
$3.87$3.87
$3.25$3.25
19.08%
Onion(1kg)
$4.06$4.06
$2.57$2.57
57.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.12$3.12
$1.85$1.85
68.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.45$2.45
$1.64$1.64
49.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.26$19.26
$12.79$12.79
50.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.96$19.96
$15.25$15.25
30.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.99$2.99
$1.70$1.70
75.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73$3.73
$3.37$3.37
10.68%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Brockton, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.84$2.84
$1.97$1.97
44.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$134$134
$53.9$53.9
149.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.11$5.11
$2.93$2.93
74.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.11$2.11
$1.77$1.77
19.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.31$42.31
$28.75$28.75
47.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97$0.97
$0.82$0.82
18.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K$34.7K
$35.5K$35.5K
-2.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8K$27.8K
$24.6K$24.6K
13.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Brockton, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$181$181
$191$191
-4.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.2$60.2
$52.8$52.8
14.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.5$62.5
$66.9$66.9
-6.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Brockton, MA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$143$143
$42.20$42.20
239.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$65.3$65.3
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.98$19.98
$15.01$15.01
33.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Brockton, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$3,216$3,216
$1,316$1,316
144.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$57.2K$57.2K
$7,988$7,988
615.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Brockton, MA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.5$67.5
$47.21$47.21
42.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.68$47.68
$34.12$34.12
39.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111$111
$87.7$87.7
26.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$169$169
$159$159
5.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Brockton, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,092$4,092
$1,584$1,584
158.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,694$2,694
$1,333$1,333
102.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$8,445$8,445
$2,638$2,638
220.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$5,128$5,128
$2,246$2,246
128.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$18.2K$18.2K
$2,694$2,694
574.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,299$6,299
$2,372$2,372
165.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Brockton, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,540$5,540
$4,292$4,292
29.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.44
6.6
-2.42%
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 Brockton, MA: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,092 in New York, NY and $1,584 in Brockton, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰New York, NY pays 29% 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: $142 in New York, NY vs $66.0 in Brockton, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $411 per month, with Brockton, MA 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 Brockton, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, New York, NY or Brockton, MA?
Brockton, MA wins on cost – living expenses run 70% lower than in New York, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Brockton, MA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in New York, NY or Brockton, MA?
New York, NY pays 29% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in New York, NY vs Brockton, MA?
Rent for a central apartment: $4,092 in New York, NY versus $1,584 in Brockton, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in New York, NY compared to Brockton, MA?
All in, you'll spend $4,503 per month in New York, NY versus $2,645 in Brockton, MA – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in New York, NY vs Brockton, MA?
A monthly transit pass in Brockton, MA runs roughly 149% less than in New York, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in New York, NY or Brockton, MA?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Brockton, MA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, New York, NY or Brockton, MA?
Both work as nomad bases, but Brockton, MA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,645 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Brockton, MA hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Brockton, MA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
New York, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared