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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,841 per month in New York, NY vs $4,412 in Brooklyn, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,287 per month in New York, NY vs $6,540 in Brooklyn, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,734 per month in New York, NY vs $8,668 in Brooklyn, NY, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 10% more than Brooklyn, NY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both New York, NY and Brooklyn, NY sit above the global median – New York, NY by 254%, Brooklyn, NY by 223%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.33 $25.33

$20.14 $20.14

25.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$101 $101

40.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$11.81 $11.81

16.68%

Cappuccino

$6.19 $6.19

$5.65 $5.65

9.56%

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

$3.69 $3.69

$2.52 $2.52

46.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.08 $2.08

42.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$8.17 $8.17

-5.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$8.92 $8.92

13.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.63 $1.63

-14.72%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.85 $4.85

-5.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$7.20 $7.20

-3.61%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$6.42 $6.42

-9.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$16.83 $16.83

2.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$16.85 $16.85

-10.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.02 $18.02

$20.29 $20.29

-11.19%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$7.96 $7.96

-20.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$3.80 $3.80

-43.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$5.49 $5.49

5.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$5.84 $5.84

7.53%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$4.11 $4.11

-17.52%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$4.77 $4.77

-10.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.55 $2.55

8.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$15.23 $15.23

22.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 $20.30

$20.92 $20.92

-2.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.70 $2.70

16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$3.32 $3.32

21.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.96 $2.96

0.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

$141 $141

-1.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.92 $2.92

5.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.19 $2.19

-2.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

$42.45 $42.45

-2.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.17 $1.17

-3.42%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$34.9K $34.9K

1.50%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.4K $25.4K

0.74%

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

$236 $236

$242 $242

-2.36%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$54.2 $54.2

35.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$62.7 $62.7

15.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$105 $105

18.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.1 $63.1

$35.64 $35.64

76.94%

Cinema Ticket

$23.37 $23.37

$19.69 $19.69

18.69%

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

$3,353 $3,353

$2,454 $2,454

36.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.0K $61.0K

$34.0K $34.0K

79.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$67.9 $67.9

6.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$77.4 $77.4

-32.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$119 $119

-2.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$122 $122

1.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,438 $4,438

$3,566 $3,566

24.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,045 $3,045

$2,626 $2,626

15.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,088 $9,088

$7,415 $7,415

22.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,404 $5,404

$4,616 $4,616

17.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K $18.8K

$13.6K $13.6K

38.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 $6,500

$7,809 $7,809

-16.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,258 $5,258

$3,753 $3,753

40.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.33

2.53%

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

Last update for New York, NY: September 12, 2026

Last update for Brooklyn, NY: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,438 in New York, NY versus $3,566 in Brooklyn, NY. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 40% higher in New York, NY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $142 in New York, NY versus $101 in Brooklyn, NY. Groceries tell a different story – $516 in New York, NY vs $553 in Brooklyn, NY – so New York, NY wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Brooklyn, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,841 in New York, NY, $4,412 in Brooklyn, NY – roughly 10% apart. New York, NY costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,261 per month in New York, NY and $6,618 in Brooklyn, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Brooklyn, NY, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $142 in New York, NY and $101 in Brooklyn, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,841 in New York, NY and $4,412 in Brooklyn, NY. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$5,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,841 in New York, NY and $4,412 in Brooklyn, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. New York, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $4,412 in Brooklyn, NY to $4,841 in New York, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Brooklyn, NY. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.