Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Burbank, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Burbank, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,415 per month in New York, NY vs $3,487 in Burbank, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,980 per month in New York, NY vs $4,462 in Burbank, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,544 per month in New York, NY vs $5,438 in Burbank, CA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 27% more than Burbank, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both New York, NY and Burbank, CA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 230%, Burbank, CA by 161%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.48 $29.48

$19.91 $19.91

48.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$84.6 $84.6

68.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.41 $12.41

$11.94 $11.94

3.94%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$5.17 $5.17

17.60%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$2.84 $2.84

17.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.32 $2.32

16.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.17 $8.17

$8.41 $8.41

-2.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.04 $12.04

$9.94 $9.94

21.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.18 $1.18

37.29%

White Bread (500g)

$5.08 $5.08

$4.45 $4.45

14.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.12 $8.12

$4.14 $4.14

96.14%

Eggs

$6.87 $6.87

$6.93 $6.93

-0.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$12.44 $12.44

41.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$16.99 $16.99

-3.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.81 $19.81

$14.59 $14.59

35.78%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 $7.66

$5.95 $5.95

28.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.97 $1.97

28.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$3.96 $3.96

41.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.77 $4.77

34.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$3.06 $3.06

25.49%

Onion (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.24 $3.24

26.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.93 $1.93

59.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.13 $2.13

16.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.83 $18.83

$10.95 $10.95

71.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$15.22 $15.22

29.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.59 $2.59

15.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.22 $3.22

16.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.71 $1.71

71.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.09 $3.09

63.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.70 $1.70

29.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.75 $42.75

$28.67 $28.67

49.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.26 $1.26

-23.02%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$24.3K $24.3K

43.84%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$23.8K $23.8K

18.70%

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

$182 $182

$181 $181

0.57%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$45.76 $45.76

31.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 $63.5

$68.2 $68.2

-6.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$130 $130

9.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 $63.6

Cinema Ticket

$19.89 $19.89

$18.05 $18.05

10.19%

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

$3,129 $3,129

$1,819 $1,819

72.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$58.2K $58.2K

$24.2K $24.2K

140.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$58.0 $58.0

16.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$34.49 $34.49

36.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$83.7 $83.7

34.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$85.9 $85.9

102.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,145 $4,145

$3,173 $3,173

30.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,070 $2,070

30.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,255 $8,255

$2,610 $2,610

216.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,298 $5,298

$2,222 $2,222

138.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.5K $18.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,505 $6,505

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,520 $5,520

$5,379 $5,379

2.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.49

-0.77%

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

Last update for New York, NY: July 13, 2026

Last update for Burbank, CA: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,145 in New York, NY versus $3,173 in Burbank, CA. 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 3% 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 $143 in New York, NY versus $85.0 in Burbank, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $553 vs $447 – making Burbank, CA 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 Burbank, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 27% more than Burbank, CA, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,623 per month in New York, NY and $5,231 in Burbank, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,415 in New York, NY and $3,487 in Burbank, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,129 per month in New York, NY and $1,819 in Burbank, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,415 in New York, NY and $3,487 in Burbank, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Burbank, CA costs $3,487 versus $4,415 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Burbank, CA. 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.