Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Castle Rock, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Castle Rock, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,878 in New York, NY versus $1,252 in Castle Rock, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,262 in New York, NY versus $1,966 in Castle Rock, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,645 in New York, NY versus $2,679 in Castle Rock, CO.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 290% more expensive than in Castle Rock, CO, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: New York, NY is 255% above, Castle Rock, CO is 9% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.20 $25.20

$17.91 $17.91

40.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 $150

$78.5 $78.5

91.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.98 $13.98

$9.37 $9.37

49.20%

Cappuccino

$6.39 $6.39

$5.44 $5.44

17.46%

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

$4.01 $4.01

$2.44 $2.44

64.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$1.89 $1.89

53.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 $8.01

$7.09 $7.09

12.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.94 $9.94

$6.05 $6.05

64.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.00 $1.00

33.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.80 $4.80

$2.98 $2.98

61.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.81 $6.81

$2.83 $2.83

140.64%

Eggs

$5.67 $5.67

$4.38 $4.38

29.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.66 $16.66

$11.16 $11.16

49.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.82 $14.82

$10.28 $10.28

44.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.90 $18.90

$20.75 $20.75

-8.92%

Apples (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$5.18 $5.18

16.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.39 $1.39

55.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$3.75 $3.75

51.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.14 $5.14

18.09%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.87 $2.87

21.60%

Onion (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$3.30 $3.30

25.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.26 $1.26

111.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.70 $1.70

50.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.04 $19.04

$10.11 $10.11

88.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.73 $19.73

$12.09 $12.09

63.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.58 $2.58

27.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 $3.97

$2.69 $2.69

47.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.99 $2.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 $140

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.51 $2.51

17.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.83 $1.83

15.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.24 $41.24

$25.10 $25.10

64.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$0.79 $0.79

40.51%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$35.1K $35.1K

0.34%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

-0.30%

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

$218 $218

$217 $217

0.40%

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

$76.5 $76.5

$39.22 $39.22

95.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.0 $76.0

$69.5 $69.5

9.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$128 $128

$60.6 $60.6

110.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.2 $63.2

Cinema Ticket

$23.94 $23.94

$12.22 $12.22

95.91%

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

$3,313 $3,313

$1,316 $1,316

151.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$60.8K $60.8K

$17.8K $17.8K

242.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.0 $74.0

$54.3 $54.3

36.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.3 $56.3

$50.4 $50.4

11.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$80.1 $80.1

45.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$117 $117

11.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,391 $4,391

$1,706 $1,706

157.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,088 $3,088

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,291 $9,291

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,460 $5,460

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,723 $6,723

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,364 $5,364

$5,850 $5,850

-8.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.08

5.76%

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

Last update for New York, NY: August 29, 2026

Last update for Castle Rock, CO: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,391 in New York, NY and $1,706 in Castle Rock, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Castle Rock, CO pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $150 in New York, NY vs $78.0 in Castle Rock, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $512 vs $374 per month, with Castle Rock, CO 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 Castle Rock, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY and Castle Rock, CO differ by about 290% in total monthly costs ($4,878 vs $1,252 including rent). Castle Rock, CO is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 9% lower in Castle Rock, CO. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,391 in New York, NY versus $1,706 in Castle Rock, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $4,878 per month in New York, NY versus $1,252 in Castle Rock, CO – a 290% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Castle Rock, CO 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 Castle Rock, CO 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 Castle Rock, CO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 290% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.