Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Champaign, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Champaign, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,878 per month in New York, NY vs $2,147 in Champaign, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,262 per month in New York, NY vs $3,129 in Champaign, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,645 per month in New York, NY vs $4,110 in Champaign, IL, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 127% more than Champaign, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Champaign, IL sit above the global median – New York, NY by 255%, Champaign, IL by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.20 $25.20

$14.82 $14.82

70.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 $150

$61.1 $61.1

145.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.98 $13.98

$9.93 $9.93

40.79%

Cappuccino

$6.39 $6.39

$4.86 $4.86

31.48%

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

$4.01 $4.01

$2.23 $2.23

79.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$1.70 $1.70

71.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 $8.01

$5.63 $5.63

42.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.94 $9.94

$5.59 $5.59

77.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$0.81 $0.81

64.20%

White Bread (500g)

$4.80 $4.80

$3.20 $3.20

50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.81 $6.81

$3.09 $3.09

120.39%

Eggs

$5.67 $5.67

$3.96 $3.96

43.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.66 $16.66

$12.34 $12.34

35.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.82 $14.82

$5.97 $5.97

148.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.90 $18.90

$12.80 $12.80

47.66%

Apples (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$3.34 $3.34

80.54%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.38 $1.38

56.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$3.11 $3.11

82.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$4.53 $4.53

34.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.12 $2.12

64.62%

Onion (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$2.24 $2.24

84.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.22 $2.22

20.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.25 $1.25

104.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.04 $19.04

$10.07 $10.07

89.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.73 $19.73

$14.89 $14.89

32.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.05 $2.05

60.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 $3.97

$4.06 $4.06

-2.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.02 $1.02

193.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 $140

$20.05 $20.05

599.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.55 $2.55

15.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.54 $1.54

37.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.24 $41.24

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.10 $1.10

0.91%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$35.4K $35.4K

-0.52%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$32.6K $32.6K

-22.70%

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

$218 $218

$239 $239

-8.58%

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

$76.5 $76.5

$44.38 $44.38

72.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.0 $76.0

$69.0 $69.0

10.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$128 $128

$25.20 $25.20

406.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.2 $63.2

$11.88 $11.88

432.07%

Cinema Ticket

$23.94 $23.94

$11.29 $11.29

112.05%

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

$3,313 $3,313

$1,004 $1,004

229.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$60.8K $60.8K

$19.8K $19.8K

207.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.0 $74.0

$47.78 $47.78

54.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.3 $56.3

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

0.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$121 $121

7.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,391 $4,391

$1,474 $1,474

197.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,088 $3,088

$1,000 $1,000

208.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,291 $9,291

$1,970 $1,970

371.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,460 $5,460

$1,680 $1,680

224.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

$1,716 $1,716

1024.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,723 $6,723

$1,683 $1,683

299.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,364 $5,364

$3,674 $3,674

46.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.36

1.10%

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 Champaign, IL: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,391 in New York, NY versus $1,474 in Champaign, IL. 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 46% 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 $150 in New York, NY versus $61.0 in Champaign, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $512 vs $316 – making Champaign, IL 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 Champaign, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,878 in New York, NY, $2,147 in Champaign, IL – roughly 127% apart. New York, NY costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,317 per month in New York, NY and $3,221 in Champaign, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 62% more in New York, NY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $150 in New York, NY and $61.0 in Champaign, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Champaign, IL, where all-in costs run around $2,147, than in New York, NY at $4,878. In Champaign, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. New York, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,147 in Champaign, IL to $4,878 in New York, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Champaign, IL. 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.