Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Davis, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Davis, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,557 per month in New York, NY vs $3,198 in Davis, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,115 per month in New York, NY vs $4,580 in Davis, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,674 per month in New York, NY vs $5,962 in Davis, CA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 43% more than Davis, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both New York, NY and Davis, CA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 240%, Davis, CA by 139%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.90 $29.90

$15.17 $15.17

97.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$65.4 $65.4

118.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.67 $12.67

$12.10 $12.10

4.71%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$4.83 $4.83

19.67%

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

$3.40 $3.40

$3.36 $3.36

1.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.37 $2.37

13.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.07 $8.07

$7.96 $7.96

1.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.86 $11.86

$7.92 $7.92

49.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.21 $1.21

33.06%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.20 $4.20

22.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.17 $8.17

$3.33 $3.33

145.35%

Eggs

$7.16 $7.16

$5.11 $5.11

40.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.24 $17.24

$12.52 $12.52

37.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.17 $16.17

$11.67 $11.67

38.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.46 $20.46

$24.93 $24.93

-17.93%

Apples (1kg)

$7.33 $7.33

$4.68 $4.68

56.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.80 $2.80

-13.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$6.23 $6.23

-7.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.69 $4.69

39.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$3.97 $3.97

-4.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.56 $3.56

11.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.57 $2.57

19.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.43 $3.43

-28.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.03 $19.03

$10.04 $10.04

89.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.16 $20.16

$12.08 $12.08

66.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.80 $1.80

60.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$7.95 $7.95

-52.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.24 $1.24

130.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$130 $130

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.42 $3.42

45.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.60 $1.60

40.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.20 $42.20

$29.06 $29.06

45.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.23 $1.23

-21.95%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$27.7K $27.7K

25.36%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$24.0K $24.0K

16.96%

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

$183 $183

$235 $235

-22.16%

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

$59.5 $59.5

$52.5 $52.5

13.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 $63.4

$69.6 $69.6

-8.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$42.53 $42.53

230.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.9 $63.9

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$12.08 $12.08

65.40%

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

$3,153 $3,153

$1,482 $1,482

112.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.3K $56.3K

$23.2K $23.2K

143.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.7 $67.7

$48.74 $48.74

38.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.48 $48.48

$38.10 $38.10

27.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$95.1 $95.1

21.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$170 $170

$137 $137

23.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,113 $4,113

$2,191 $2,191

87.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,651 $2,651

$1,901 $1,901

39.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,230 $8,230

$3,400 $3,400

142.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,113 $5,113

$3,149 $3,149

62.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

$2,656 $2,656

628.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,754 $8,754

$2,354 $2,354

271.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,049 $5,049

$4,888 $4,888

3.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.36

1.26%

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

Last update for New York, NY: April 25, 2026

Last update for Davis, CA: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,113 in New York, NY versus $2,191 in Davis, CA. 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 3% 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 $65.0 in Davis, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $553 vs $467 – making Davis, CA 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 Davis, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 43%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,835 per month in New York, NY and $4,797 in Davis, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Davis, CA, 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 $4,557 in New York, NY and $3,198 in Davis, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,153 per month in New York, NY and $1,482 in Davis, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,557 in New York, NY and $3,198 in Davis, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Davis, CA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Davis, CA. 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.