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

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 54.2% more expensive than Columbia, SC without rent, and 108.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 67.5% more expensive than Columbia, SC without rent, and 141.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.09 $30.09

$18.20 $18.20

65.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$60.6 $60.6

135.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.73 $12.73

$11.99 $11.99

6.17%

Cappuccino

$6.01 $6.01

$3.65 $3.65

64.66%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$2.42 $2.42

37.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.85 $1.85

42.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$4.47 $4.47

75.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.97 $11.97

$5.59 $5.59

114.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 $1.57

$0.88 $0.88

78.41%

White Bread (500g)

$5.15 $5.15

$2.67 $2.67

92.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.26 $8.26

$3.52 $3.52

134.66%

Eggs

$7.02 $7.02

$4.22 $4.22

66.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.49 $17.49

$9.59 $9.59

82.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.56 $16.56

$13.00 $13.00

27.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.39 $20.39

$22.32 $22.32

-8.65%

Apples (1kg)

$7.37 $7.37

$5.27 $5.27

39.85%

Banana (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.80 $1.80

36.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$5.06 $5.06

12.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$3.24 $3.24

99.07%

Potato (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$3.23 $3.23

19.50%

Onion (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$4.74 $4.74

-16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.01 $2.01

55.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.83 $1.83

36.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.78 $18.78

$8.39 $8.39

123.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.23 $18.23

$14.90 $14.90

22.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.00 $2.00

47.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.65 $2.65

41.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.03 $2.03

45.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$132 $132

$39.69 $39.69

231.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.86 $4.86

$1.94 $1.94

150.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.47 $1.47

48.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.87 $41.87

$18.33 $18.33

128.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.81 $0.81

19.75%

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

$34.3K $34.3K

$29.7K $29.7K

15.47%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$25.6K $25.6K

9.51%

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

$182 $182

$219 $219

-16.54%

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

$60.7 $60.7

$55.3 $55.3

9.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$59.4 $59.4

5.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$39.52 $39.52

261.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.5 $65.5

$6.91 $6.91

847.61%

Cinema Ticket

$19.78 $19.78

$14.80 $14.80

33.65%

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

$3,189 $3,189

$1,422 $1,422

124.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.1K $57.1K

$22.5K $22.5K

154.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.3 $67.3

$56.6 $56.6

19.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.64 $48.64

$35.13 $35.13

38.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$78.3 $78.3

43.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$112 $112

53.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,162 $4,162

$1,290 $1,290

222.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,667 $2,667

$923 $923

188.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,481 $8,481

$2,177 $2,177

289.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,161 $5,161

$1,270 $1,270

306.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.4K $20.4K

$2,107 $2,107

869.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,438 $9,438

$1,679 $1,679

462.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,201 $5,201

$3,214 $3,214

61.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.54

-1.53%

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

Last update for New York, NY: March 1, 2026

Last update for Columbia, SC: March 2, 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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