Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Covington, LA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Covington, LA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,459 in New York, NY versus $2,461 in Covington, LA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,988 in New York, NY versus $3,492 in Covington, LA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,517 in New York, NY versus $4,523 in Covington, LA.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 81% more expensive than in Covington, LA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 234% above, Covington, LA 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.11 $30.11

$18.34 $18.34

64.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$56.0 $56.0

154.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.67 $12.67

$11.95 $11.95

6.03%

Cappuccino

$6.07 $6.07

$2.97 $2.97

104.38%

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

$3.27 $3.27

$1.72 $1.72

90.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.40 $1.40

85.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$4.17 $4.17

91.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.18 $12.18

$5.03 $5.03

142.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.92 $0.92

67.39%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.24 $3.24

56.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.39 $8.39

$2.60 $2.60

222.69%

Eggs

$7.11 $7.11

$3.16 $3.16

125.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.70 $17.70

$5.17 $5.17

242.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.71 $16.71

$7.65 $7.65

118.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.85 $19.85

$14.19 $14.19

39.89%

Apples (1kg)

$7.38 $7.38

$3.54 $3.54

108.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$0.86 $0.86

197.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$2.95 $2.95

97.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.35 $6.35

$4.03 $4.03

57.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.64 $2.64

42.05%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.77 $2.77

46.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.12 $2.12

48.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.23 $2.23

11.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$8.04 $8.04

132.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.79 $19.79

$16.61 $16.61

19.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 $3.02

$1.77 $1.77

70.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.15 $3.15

18.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.94 $1.94

46.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.94 $4.94

$2.57 $2.57

92.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.58 $1.58

41.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.11 $42.11

$26.06 $26.06

61.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.81 $0.81

19.75%

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

$34.8K $34.8K

$34.9K $34.9K

-0.12%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.6K $25.6K

8.10%

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

$180 $180

$262 $262

-31.18%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$48.72 $48.72

23.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.6 $62.6

$66.5 $66.5

-5.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$142 $142

$42.23 $42.23

235.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.8 $64.8

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$10.02 $10.02

99.40%

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

$3,220 $3,220

$523 $523

516.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.0K $57.0K

$7,891 $7,891

622.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.3 $67.3

$39.26 $39.26

71.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.36 $48.36

$42.76 $42.76

13.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$77.5 $77.5

45.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 $171

$74.7 $74.7

128.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,136 $4,136

$1,803 $1,803

129.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,635 $2,635

$1,351 $1,351

94.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,333 $8,333

$2,670 $2,670

212.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,118 $5,118

$2,188 $2,188

133.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

$6,879 $6,879

171.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$4,011 $4,011

61.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,420 $5,420

$4,696 $4,696

15.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.43

0.16%

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

Last update for New York, NY: July 19, 2026

Last update for Covington, LA: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,136 in New York, NY and $1,803 in Covington, LA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 15% 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: $143 in New York, NY vs $56.0 in Covington, LA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $555 vs $313 per month, with Covington, LA 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 Covington, LA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Covington, LA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 81% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 15% 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: $4,136 in New York, NY versus $1,803 in Covington, LA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 78% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $4,459 per month in New York, NY versus $2,461 in Covington, LA – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Covington, LA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Covington, LA 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 Covington, LA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.