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 57% more expensive than Columbia, SC without rent, and 104.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 70.3% more expensive than Columbia, SC without rent, and 138.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Columbia, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.14 $30.14
$17.68 $17.68
70.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$147 $147
$60.3 $60.3
144.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.62 $12.62
$11.87 $11.87
6.32%
Cappuccino
$6.00 $6.00
$3.80 $3.80
57.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 $3.35
$2.40 $2.40
39.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.88 $1.88
37.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.18 $8.18
$4.46 $4.46
83.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.99 $11.99
$5.56 $5.56
115.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Columbia, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 $1.61
$0.93 $0.93
73.12%
White Bread (500g)
$5.03 $5.03
$2.68 $2.68
87.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.40 $8.40
$3.55 $3.55
136.62%
Eggs
$7.10 $7.10
$4.32 $4.32
64.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.38 $17.38
$9.70 $9.70
79.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.18 $16.18
$12.77 $12.77
26.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.48 $20.48
$22.27 $22.27
-8.04%
Apples (1kg)
$7.36 $7.36
$5.19 $5.19
41.81%
Banana (1kg)
$2.56 $2.56
$1.77 $1.77
44.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.71 $5.71
$5.15 $5.15
10.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.24 $6.24
$3.15 $3.15
98.10%
Potato (1kg)
$3.87 $3.87
$3.32 $3.32
16.57%
Onion (1kg)
$4.11 $4.11
$4.72 $4.72
-12.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.03 $3.03
$1.94 $1.94
56.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.87 $1.87
36.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.07 $19.07
$8.88 $8.88
114.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.66 $19.66
$15.02 $15.02
30.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.02 $2.02
47.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 $3.75
$2.67 $2.67
40.45%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Columbia, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.99 $1.99
47.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$131 $131
$39.59 $39.59
229.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.07 $5.07
$2.01 $2.01
152.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.52 $1.52
44.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.49 $41.49
$17.80 $17.80
133.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$0.76 $0.76
28.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K $34.5K
$29.9K $29.9K
15.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$25.3K $25.3K
11.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Columbia, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 $184
$225 $225
-18.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.0 $59.0
$55.1 $55.1
6.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.9 $61.9
$59.7 $59.7
3.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Columbia, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$40.09 $40.09
250.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$65.3 $65.3
$7.12 $7.12
816.71%
Cinema Ticket
$20.13 $20.13
$15.27 $15.27
31.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Columbia, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,191 $3,191
$1,472 $1,472
116.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$57.5K $57.5K
$22.4K $22.4K
156.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Columbia, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.2 $67.2
$55.7 $55.7
20.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.98 $47.98
$35.37 $35.37
35.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$79.3 $79.3
40.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170 $170
$111 $111
52.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Columbia, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,207 $4,207
$1,283 $1,283
227.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,717 $2,717
$917 $917
196.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,382 $8,382
$2,180 $2,180
284.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,127 $5,127
$1,303 $1,303
293.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.5K $19.5K
$2,084 $2,084
838.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,862 $8,862
$1,687 $1,687
425.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Columbia, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,228 $5,228
$3,225 $3,225
62.12%
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: April 11, 2026

Last update for Columbia, SC: April 13, 2026

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

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