Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Brookhaven, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Brookhaven, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,438 in New York, NY versus $2,608 in Brookhaven, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,016 in New York, NY versus $3,895 in Brookhaven, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,593 in New York, NY versus $5,182 in Brookhaven, NY.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 70% more expensive than Brookhaven, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 231% above, Brookhaven, NY 95% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.91 $29.91

$19.99 $19.99

49.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 $144

$100 $100

43.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$13.87 $13.87

-11.18%

Cappuccino

$6.03 $6.03

$5.45 $5.45

10.64%

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

$3.39 $3.39

$2.35 $2.35

44.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.88 $1.88

36.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.20 $8.20

$6.80 $6.80

20.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.95 $11.95

$8.84 $8.84

35.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.28 $1.28

20.31%

White Bread (500g)

$5.15 $5.15

$3.66 $3.66

40.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.43 $8.43

$5.28 $5.28

59.66%

Eggs

$6.97 $6.97

$4.74 $4.74

47.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.28 $17.28

$21.78 $21.78

-20.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$11.71 $11.71

38.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.95 $19.95

$17.07 $17.07

16.87%

Apples (1kg)

$7.45 $7.45

$4.98 $4.98

49.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.74 $1.74

39.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$3.97 $3.97

47.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$4.10 $4.10

53.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.78 $2.78

33.81%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.89 $3.89

2.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.37 $2.37

34.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.68 $2.68

-4.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.09 $19.09

$11.88 $11.88

60.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.24 $20.24

$15.09 $15.09

34.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.76 $1.76

69.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

$5.86 $5.86

-33.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.04 $2.04

44.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 $5.13

$2.96 $2.96

73.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.02 $2.02

8.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.64 $42.64

$23.73 $23.73

79.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.85 $0.85

11.76%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$35.4K $35.4K

-2.54%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$25.8K $25.8K

9.29%

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

$182 $182

$123 $123

47.39%

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

$60.1 $60.1

$44.21 $44.21

35.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$66.1 $66.1

-6.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$42.97 $42.97

225.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.4 $64.4

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$16.96 $16.96

19.87%

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

$3,222 $3,222

$2,259 $2,259

42.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.2K $56.2K

$23.3K $23.3K

141.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.9 $65.9

$73.8 $73.8

-10.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$64.1 $64.1

-26.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$76.1 $76.1

45.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$173 $173

$136 $136

27.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,208 $4,208

$1,604 $1,604

162.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,647 $2,647

$1,375 $1,375

92.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,415 $8,415

$2,618 $2,618

221.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,170 $5,170

$2,197 $2,197

135.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.1K $20.1K

$2,679 $2,679

650.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,742 $8,742

$2,322 $2,322

276.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,144 $5,144

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.62

-2.72%

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 Brookhaven, NY: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,208 in New York, NY and $1,604 in Brookhaven, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $144 in New York, NY vs $100 in Brookhaven, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $445 per month, with Brookhaven, NY 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 Brookhaven, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brookhaven, NY is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 70% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $6,657 in New York, NY and $3,913 in Brookhaven, NY 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: $4,208 in New York, NY versus $1,604 in Brookhaven, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 25% 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 $2,608 in Brookhaven, NY – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Brookhaven, NY is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Brookhaven, NY is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in New York, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, New York, NY and Brookhaven, NY 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 Brookhaven, NY 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.