Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Clifton, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Clifton, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,415 per month in New York, NY vs $3,009 in Clifton, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,980 per month in New York, NY vs $4,170 in Clifton, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,544 per month in New York, NY vs $5,331 in Clifton, NJ, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 47% more than Clifton, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both New York, NY and Clifton, NJ sit above the global median – New York, NY by 230%, Clifton, NJ by 125%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.48 $29.48

$20.23 $20.23

45.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$100 $100

42.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.41 $12.41

$12.11 $12.11

2.48%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$5.84 $5.84

4.11%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$2.27 $2.27

46.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.63 $1.63

65.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.17 $8.17

$7.12 $7.12

14.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.04 $12.04

$6.88 $6.88

75.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.36 $1.36

19.12%

White Bread (500g)

$5.08 $5.08

$4.36 $4.36

16.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.12 $8.12

$5.50 $5.50

47.64%

Eggs

$6.87 $6.87

$6.46 $6.46

6.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$13.12 $13.12

34.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$10.20 $10.20

60.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.81 $19.81

$19.87 $19.87

-0.30%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 $7.66

$5.81 $5.81

31.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.42 $2.42

4.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$4.33 $4.33

29.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.95 $4.95

29.29%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$3.13 $3.13

22.68%

Onion (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.53 $2.53

62.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.85 $2.85

8.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.58 $2.58

-3.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.83 $18.83

$17.29 $17.29

8.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$15.17 $15.17

29.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.77 $1.77

68.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.83 $3.83

-2.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.73 $2.73

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 $5.05

$2.92 $2.92

72.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.22 $2.22

-0.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.75 $42.75

$41.26 $41.26

3.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.96 $0.96

1.04%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$31.1K $31.1K

12.42%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$25.7K $25.7K

10.32%

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

$182 $182

$213 $213

-14.49%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$53.5 $53.5

12.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 $63.5

$63.0 $63.0

0.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$20.73 $20.73

588.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 $63.6

Cinema Ticket

$19.89 $19.89

$19.67 $19.67

1.12%

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

$3,129 $3,129

$1,727 $1,727

81.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$58.2K $58.2K

$16.2K $16.2K

259.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$49.75 $49.75

35.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$19.75 $19.75

138.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$89.5 $89.5

25.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$169 $169

3.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,145 $4,145

$1,697 $1,697

144.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,663 $1,663

61.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,255 $8,255

$2,653 $2,653

211.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,298 $5,298

$2,238 $2,238

136.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.5K $18.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,505 $6,505

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,520 $5,520

$4,305 $4,305

28.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

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

Last update for New York, NY: July 13, 2026

Last update for Clifton, NJ: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,145 in New York, NY versus $1,697 in Clifton, NJ. 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 28% 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 $143 in New York, NY versus $100 in Clifton, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $553 vs $444 – making Clifton, NJ 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 Clifton, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,415 in New York, NY, $3,009 in Clifton, NJ – roughly 47% apart. New York, NY costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,623 per month in New York, NY and $4,514 in Clifton, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,415 in New York, NY and $3,009 in Clifton, NJ. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,129 per month in New York, NY and $1,727 in Clifton, NJ. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,415 in New York, NY and $3,009 in Clifton, NJ. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. New York, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,009 in Clifton, NJ to $4,415 in New York, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Clifton, NJ. 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.