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: $4,443 in New York, NY versus $2,928 in Clearwater, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,945 in New York, NY versus $4,444 in Clearwater, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,447 in New York, NY versus $5,960 in Clearwater, FL.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 52% more expensive than in Clearwater, FL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 234% above, Clearwater, FL 120% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.45 $30.45

$19.19 $19.19

58.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$146 $146

$73.6 $73.6

98.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.71 $12.71

$10.07 $10.07

26.22%

Cappuccino

$5.87 $5.87

$4.64 $4.64

26.51%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$2.27 $2.27

41.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.80 $1.80

50.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$4.58 $4.58

78.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.89 $11.89

$7.56 $7.56

57.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.17 $1.17

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$5.01 $5.01

$3.64 $3.64

37.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.33 $8.33

$4.17 $4.17

99.76%

Eggs

$7.02 $7.02

$4.56 $4.56

53.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$11.98 $11.98

45.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.72 $16.72

$12.47 $12.47

34.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.01 $20.01

$16.49 $16.49

21.35%

Apples (1kg)

$7.72 $7.72

$6.19 $6.19

24.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.42 $1.42

73.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$5.56 $5.56

2.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$5.30 $5.30

21.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.44 $3.44

9.01%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.84 $3.84

1.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.10 $2.10

44.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.83 $2.83

-9.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.84 $18.84

$6.96 $6.96

170.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$16.44 $16.44

19.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.76 $1.76

70.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.73 $3.73

4.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 $2.88

$3.04 $3.04

-5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$32.87 $32.87

303.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.27 $3.27

56.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$0.66 $0.66

233.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.93 $41.93

$59.4 $59.4

-29.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.84 $0.84

16.67%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$29.1K $29.1K

21.81%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$24.9K $24.9K

10.53%

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

$184 $184

$257 $257

-28.38%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$44.07 $44.07

35.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 $62.4

$73.2 $73.2

-14.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$38.59 $38.59

261.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.0 $65.0

$24.65 $24.65

163.57%

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$14.25 $14.25

42.67%

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

$3,153 $3,153

$426 $426

640.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.8K $56.8K

$7,104 $7,104

699.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$65.2 $65.2

4.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.89 $47.89

$55.3 $55.3

-13.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$100 $100

14.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$166 $166

4.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,125 $4,125

$2,073 $2,073

98.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,685 $2,685

$1,578 $1,578

70.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,262 $8,262

$3,649 $3,649

126.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,258 $5,258

$2,948 $2,948

78.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

$2,941 $2,941

534.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$2,745 $2,745

135.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,584 $5,584

$3,688 $3,688

51.41%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Clearwater, FL: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,125 in New York, NY and $2,073 in Clearwater, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 51% 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: $146 in New York, NY vs $74.0 in Clearwater, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $555 vs $429 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 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 51% 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: $4,125 in New York, NY versus $2,073 in Clearwater, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,443 per month in New York, NY versus $2,928 in Clearwater, FL – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Clearwater, FL runs roughly 304% 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 52% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.