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: $4,841 in New York, NY versus $3,015 in Clearwater, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,287 in New York, NY versus $4,450 in Clearwater, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,734 in New York, NY versus $5,885 in Clearwater, FL.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 61% more expensive than in Clearwater, FL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 254% above, Clearwater, FL 120% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.33 $25.33

$16.76 $16.76

51.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$67.9 $67.9

109.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$11.41 $11.41

20.77%

Cappuccino

$6.19 $6.19

$4.82 $4.82

28.42%

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

$3.69 $3.69

$2.28 $2.28

61.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.78 $1.78

66.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.65 $5.65

37.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$8.04 $8.04

26.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.98 $0.98

41.84%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$3.83 $3.83

19.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$4.35 $4.35

59.54%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$4.13 $4.13

40.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$10.99 $10.99

57.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$15.00 $15.00

0.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.02 $18.02

$19.70 $19.70

-8.53%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$6.19 $6.19

1.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.51 $1.51

41.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$6.12 $6.12

-5.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$6.09 $6.09

3.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$4.05 $4.05

-16.30%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$3.74 $3.74

14.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.62 $2.62

5.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.64 $2.64

-3.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$10.80 $10.80

73.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 $20.30

$16.39 $16.39

23.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.84 $1.84

71.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$4.56 $4.56

-11.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.95 $2.95

0.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

$44.65 $44.65

209.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.33 $3.33

-7.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$0.67 $0.67

219.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

$60.8 $60.8

-31.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.89 $0.89

26.97%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$37.5K $37.5K

-5.63%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.3K $25.3K

1.09%

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

$236 $236

$249 $249

-5.02%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$56.7 $56.7

30.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$77.0 $77.0

-6.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$39.91 $39.91

213.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.1 $63.1

$25.37 $25.37

148.56%

Cinema Ticket

$23.37 $23.37

$16.20 $16.20

44.26%

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

$3,353 $3,353

$1,250 $1,250

168.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.0K $61.0K

$24.8K $24.8K

145.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$75.2 $75.2

-3.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$54.1 $54.1

-3.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$109 $109

6.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$138 $138

-10.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,438 $4,438

$2,044 $2,044

117.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,045 $3,045

$1,561 $1,561

95.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,088 $9,088

$3,637 $3,637

149.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,404 $5,404

$2,869 $2,869

88.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K $18.8K

$2,903 $2,903

547.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 $6,500

$2,713 $2,713

139.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,258 $5,258

$3,658 $3,658

43.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.18

5.02%

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

Last update for New York, NY: September 12, 2026

Last update for Clearwater, FL: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,438 in New York, NY and $2,044 in Clearwater, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 44% 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: $142 in New York, NY vs $68.0 in Clearwater, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $516 vs $457 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 44% higher in New York, NY, 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: $4,438 in New York, NY versus $2,044 in Clearwater, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,841 per month in New York, NY versus $3,015 in Clearwater, FL – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Clearwater, FL runs roughly 210% 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 61% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.