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 $4,443 per month in New York, NY vs $3,969 in Brooklyn, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,945 per month in New York, NY vs $5,999 in Brooklyn, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,447 per month in New York, NY vs $8,028 in Brooklyn, NY, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 12% 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 234%, Brooklyn, NY by 198%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.45 $30.45

$19.77 $19.77

54.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$146 $146

$118 $118

23.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.71 $12.71

$12.49 $12.49

1.76%

Cappuccino

$5.87 $5.87

$5.94 $5.94

-1.18%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$2.81 $2.81

14.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.01 $2.01

34.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$8.14 $8.14

0.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.89 $11.89

$7.91 $7.91

50.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.49 $1.49

4.70%

White Bread (500g)

$5.01 $5.01

$4.75 $4.75

5.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.33 $8.33

$6.26 $6.26

33.07%

Eggs

$7.02 $7.02

$5.55 $5.55

26.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$13.53 $13.53

28.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.72 $16.72

$12.59 $12.59

32.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.01 $20.01

$15.04 $15.04

33.05%

Apples (1kg)

$7.72 $7.72

$6.02 $6.02

28.24%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$3.98 $3.98

-37.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$5.56 $5.56

2.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$6.25 $6.25

2.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$5.16 $5.16

-27.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.83 $4.83

-19.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.77 $2.77

9.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.41 $2.41

6.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.84 $18.84

$15.12 $15.12

24.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$21.26 $21.26

-7.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.52 $2.52

19.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.52 $3.52

10.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.97 $2.97

-3.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$132 $132

0.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$2.94 $2.94

73.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.13 $2.13

3.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.93 $41.93

$41.58 $41.58

0.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.95 $0.95

3.16%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$25.3K $25.3K

39.68%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$24.8K $24.8K

10.93%

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

$184 $184

$163 $163

12.79%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$59.7 $59.7

0.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 $62.4

$68.1 $68.1

-8.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$108 $108

28.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.0 $65.0

$67.4 $67.4

-3.62%

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$19.89 $19.89

2.21%

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

$3,153 $3,153

$1,926 $1,926

63.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.8K $56.8K

$14.4K $14.4K

294.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$61.1 $61.1

11.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.89 $47.89

$59.1 $59.1

-18.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$109 $109

5.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$134 $134

29.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,125 $4,125

$3,178 $3,178

29.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,685 $2,685

$2,408 $2,408

11.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,262 $8,262

$6,095 $6,095

35.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,258 $5,258

$4,397 $4,397

19.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

$11.8K $11.8K

58.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$6,692 $6,692

-3.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,584 $5,584

$3,803 $3,803

46.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.51

-1.08%

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

Last update for New York, NY: July 25, 2026

Last update for Brooklyn, NY: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,125 in New York, NY versus $3,178 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 47% 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 $146 in New York, NY versus $118 in Brooklyn, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $555 vs $493 – making Brooklyn, NY the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $4,443 in New York, NY, $3,969 in Brooklyn, NY – roughly 12% apart. New York, NY costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,664 per month in New York, NY and $5,954 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 $146 in New York, NY and $118 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 $4,443 in New York, NY and $3,969 in Brooklyn, NY. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,443 in New York, NY and $3,969 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 $3,969 in Brooklyn, NY to $4,443 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.