Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Clearwater, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Clearwater, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,557 in New York, NY versus $2,925 in Clearwater, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,115 in New York, NY versus $4,415 in Clearwater, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,674 in New York, NY versus $5,905 in Clearwater, FL.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 56% more expensive than Clearwater, FL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 240% above, Clearwater, FL 118% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.90 $29.90

$19.19 $19.19

55.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$71.9 $71.9

98.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.67 $12.67

$9.87 $9.87

28.37%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$4.63 $4.63

24.84%

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

$3.40 $3.40

$2.34 $2.34

45.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.85 $1.85

45.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.07 $8.07

$4.42 $4.42

82.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.86 $11.86

$7.38 $7.38

60.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.13 $1.13

42.48%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.56 $3.56

44.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.17 $8.17

$4.08 $4.08

100.25%

Eggs

$7.16 $7.16

$4.41 $4.41

62.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.24 $17.24

$11.76 $11.76

46.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.17 $16.17

$12.37 $12.37

30.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.46 $20.46

$16.77 $16.77

22.00%

Apples (1kg)

$7.33 $7.33

$6.11 $6.11

19.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.42 $1.42

70.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$5.32 $5.32

8.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$5.25 $5.25

24.19%

Potato (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$3.52 $3.52

8.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.91 $3.91

1.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.02 $2.02

52.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.78 $2.78

-11.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.03 $19.03

$6.83 $6.83

178.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.16 $20.16

$17.96 $17.96

12.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.75 $1.75

65.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.85 $3.85

-2.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.99 $2.99

-4.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$130 $130

$32.59 $32.59

298.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.45 $3.45

44.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 $2.24

$0.70 $0.70

220.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.20 $42.20

$61.2 $61.2

-30.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$0.86 $0.86

11.63%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$28.7K $28.7K

20.85%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$24.4K $24.4K

15.18%

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

$183 $183

$257 $257

-28.73%

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

$59.5 $59.5

$44.88 $44.88

32.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 $63.4

$74.8 $74.8

-15.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$39.08 $39.08

259.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.9 $63.9

$24.71 $24.71

158.48%

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$14.08 $14.08

41.90%

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

$3,153 $3,153

$422 $422

646.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.3K $56.3K

$7,284 $7,284

672.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.7 $67.7

$66.5 $66.5

1.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.48 $48.48

$54.6 $54.6

-11.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$100 $100

15.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$170 $170

$171 $171

-0.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,113 $4,113

$2,093 $2,093

96.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,651 $2,651

$1,592 $1,592

66.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,230 $8,230

$3,653 $3,653

125.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,113 $5,113

$2,955 $2,955

73.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

$2,929 $2,929

560.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,754 $8,754

$2,767 $2,767

216.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,049 $5,049

$3,731 $3,731

35.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.59

-2.28%

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

Last update for New York, NY: April 25, 2026

Last update for Clearwater, FL: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,113 in New York, NY and $2,093 in Clearwater, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 35% 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: $143 in New York, NY vs $72.0 in Clearwater, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $553 vs $427 per month, with Clearwater, FL 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 Clearwater, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Clearwater, FL is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

New York, NY pays 35% 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: $4,113 in New York, NY versus $2,093 in Clearwater, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,557 per month in New York, NY versus $2,925 in Clearwater, FL – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Clearwater, FL runs roughly 298% less than in New York, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Clearwater, FL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Clearwater, FL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in New York, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Clearwater, FL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.