Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Charleston, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Charleston, SC

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 41.6% more expensive than Charleston, SC without rent, and 52.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 51.3% more expensive than Charleston, SC without rent, and 74.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.05 $30.05

$17.86 $17.86

68.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$79.0 $79.0

80.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$9.91 $9.91

23.81%

Cappuccino

$5.99 $5.99

$4.83 $4.83

24.02%

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

$3.31 $3.31

$2.43 $2.43

36.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.93 $1.93

40.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.23 $8.23

$5.82 $5.82

41.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.04 $12.04

$8.12 $8.12

48.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.95 $0.95

61.05%

White Bread (500g)

$5.19 $5.19

$3.73 $3.73

39.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.41 $8.41

$3.07 $3.07

173.94%

Eggs

$7.21 $7.21

$4.53 $4.53

59.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.68 $17.68

$13.77 $13.77

28.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.44 $16.44

$14.72 $14.72

11.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.98 $19.98

$17.04 $17.04

17.25%

Apples (1kg)

$7.34 $7.34

$5.76 $5.76

27.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.64 $1.64

51.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$6.48 $6.48

-12.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.55 $6.55

$4.02 $4.02

62.94%

Potato (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$3.83 $3.83

0.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$2.80 $2.80

41.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.78 $1.78

73.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.96 $1.96

26.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.19 $19.19

$7.61 $7.61

152.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.35 $18.35

$17.86 $17.86

2.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.79 $1.79

67.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 $3.81

$3.25 $3.25

17.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.01 $2.01

46.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$55.9 $55.9

140.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.92 $4.92

$2.91 $2.91

69.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.58 $1.58

33.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.15 $42.15

$20.07 $20.07

110.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.83 $0.83

16.87%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$33.0K $33.0K

7.14%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$24.3K $24.3K

13.27%

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

$182 $182

$140 $140

29.85%

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

$59.3 $59.3

$55.4 $55.4

7.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.9 $62.9

$73.4 $73.4

-14.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$142 $142

$28.68 $28.68

393.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.2 $65.2

$18.43 $18.43

253.55%

Cinema Ticket

$20.25 $20.25

$13.03 $13.03

55.41%

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

$3,193 $3,193

$1,320 $1,320

141.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.7K $57.7K

$24.3K $24.3K

137.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$48.80 $48.80

39.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.71 $47.71

$36.11 $36.11

32.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 $114

$95.6 $95.6

19.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 $171

$156 $156

9.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,152 $4,152

$2,532 $2,532

63.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,695 $2,695

$1,692 $1,692

59.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,492 $8,492

$4,525 $4,525

87.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,225 $5,225

$2,726 $2,726

91.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$21.5K $21.5K

$5,351 $5,351

302.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.0K $10.0K

$2,996 $2,996

234.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,197 $5,197

$4,536 $4,536

14.56%

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: January 12, 2026

Last update for Charleston, SC: January 11, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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