Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Camden, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Camden, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,458 in New York, NY versus $2,915 in Camden, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,020 in New York, NY versus $4,246 in Camden, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,582 in New York, NY versus $5,577 in Camden, NJ.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 53% more expensive than Camden, NJ, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 232% above, Camden, NJ 117% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.87 $29.87

$19.94 $19.94

49.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$148 $148

$91.0 $91.0

62.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.37 $12.37

$12.23 $12.23

1.14%

Cappuccino

$6.07 $6.07

$4.89 $4.89

24.13%

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

$3.21 $3.21

$2.73 $2.73

17.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.02 $2.02

31.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.06 $6.06

30.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.19 $12.19

$6.91 $6.91

76.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.35 $1.35

14.81%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.23 $4.23

21.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.16 $8.16

$8.07 $8.07

1.12%

Eggs

$6.96 $6.96

$4.31 $4.31

61.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.53 $17.53

$14.88 $14.88

17.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$16.73 $16.73

-3.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.40 $20.40

$20.07 $20.07

1.64%

Apples (1kg)

$7.60 $7.60

$6.19 $6.19

22.78%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.14 $2.14

14.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$5.93 $5.93

-4.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.42 $5.42

19.37%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.69 $3.69

0.81%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$2.81 $2.81

41.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.02 $3.02

4.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.52 $2.52

-2.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.92 $18.92

$12.93 $12.93

46.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.27 $20.27

$20.20 $20.20

0.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.03 $2.03

41.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$4.05 $4.05

-4.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.25 $2.25

28.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$132 $132

$59.3 $59.3

123.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.10 $5.10

$2.93 $2.93

74.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.52 $1.52

44.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.50 $42.50

$22.06 $22.06

92.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.97 $0.97

-2.06%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$30.5K $30.5K

16.33%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$25.4K $25.4K

11.20%

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

$181 $181

$271 $271

-33.29%

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

$59.8 $59.8

$59.1 $59.1

1.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$76.3 $76.3

-16.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$42.59 $42.59

230.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.9 $64.9

Cinema Ticket

$19.92 $19.92

$15.27 $15.27

30.45%

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

$3,208 $3,208

$2,051 $2,051

56.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.8K $57.8K

$23.6K $23.6K

144.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.3 $68.3

$56.1 $56.1

21.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.77 $48.77

$41.27 $41.27

18.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$94.5 $94.5

19.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$144 $144

19.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,213 $4,213

$1,626 $1,626

159.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,706 $2,706

$1,332 $1,332

103.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,515 $8,515

$2,667 $2,667

219.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,231 $5,231

$2,206 $2,206

137.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.9K $17.9K

$2,872 $2,872

523.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,389 $6,389

$2,442 $2,442

161.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,445 $5,445

$4,831 $4,831

12.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

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

Last update for New York, NY: June 7, 2026

Last update for Camden, NJ: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,213 in New York, NY and $1,626 in Camden, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 13% 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: $148 in New York, NY vs $91.0 in Camden, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $506 per month, with Camden, NJ 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 Camden, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY and Camden, NJ differ by about 53% in total monthly costs ($4,458 vs $2,915 including rent). Camden, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

New York, NY pays 13% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,213 in New York, NY versus $1,626 in Camden, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Camden, NJ runs roughly 123% less than in New York, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $3,208 in New York, NY versus $2,051 in Camden, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Camden, NJ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, New York, NY and Camden, NJ 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 Camden, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.