Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Denver, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Denver, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,415 in New York, NY versus $3,134 in Denver, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,980 in New York, NY versus $4,650 in Denver, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,544 in New York, NY versus $6,166 in Denver, CO.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 41% more expensive than in Denver, CO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 230% above, Denver, CO 135% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.48 $29.48

$20.16 $20.16

46.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$85.1 $85.1

67.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.41 $12.41

$12.13 $12.13

2.31%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$5.41 $5.41

12.38%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$3.00 $3.00

11.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.21 $2.21

22.17%

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

$8.11 $8.11

48.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.07 $1.07

51.40%

White Bread (500g)

$5.08 $5.08

$4.13 $4.13

23.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.12 $8.12

$5.99 $5.99

35.56%

Eggs

$6.87 $6.87

$5.53 $5.53

24.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$14.34 $14.34

22.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$12.84 $12.84

27.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.81 $19.81

$17.40 $17.40

13.85%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 $7.66

$5.57 $5.57

37.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.90 $1.90

33.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$5.13 $5.13

9.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$5.34 $5.34

19.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.81 $2.81

36.65%

Onion (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.65 $2.65

54.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.98 $1.98

55.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.20 $2.20

13.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.83 $18.83

$10.27 $10.27

83.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$19.86 $19.86

-0.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.40 $2.40

24.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.68 $3.68

1.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$87.4 $87.4

52.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.41 $3.41

48.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.76 $1.76

25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.75 $42.75

$24.36 $24.36

75.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.91 $0.91

6.59%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$31.9K $31.9K

9.63%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$27.3K $27.3K

3.57%

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

$182 $182

$173 $173

5.02%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$72.8 $72.8

-17.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 $63.5

$67.0 $67.0

-5.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$61.9 $61.9

130.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 $63.6

$37.82 $37.82

68.24%

Cinema Ticket

$19.89 $19.89

$15.24 $15.24

30.51%

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

$3,129 $3,129

$1,574 $1,574

98.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$58.2K $58.2K

$16.2K $16.2K

258.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$59.5 $59.5

13.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$46.25 $46.25

2.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$96.3 $96.3

16.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$121 $121

43.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,145 $4,145

$2,142 $2,142

93.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,714 $1,714

57.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,255 $8,255

$3,536 $3,536

133.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,298 $5,298

$3,020 $3,020

75.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.5K $18.5K

$5,642 $5,642

228.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,505 $6,505

$3,705 $3,705

75.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,520 $5,520

$4,486 $4,486

23.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.37

1.10%

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 Denver, CO: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,145 in New York, NY and $2,142 in Denver, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 23% 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 $85.0 in Denver, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $553 vs $451 per month, with Denver, CO 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 Denver, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Denver, CO wins on cost – living expenses run 41% lower than in New York, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Denver, CO the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 23% 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: $4,145 in New York, NY versus $2,142 in Denver, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Denver, CO – a meal for two runs $85.0 versus $143 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Denver, CO is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Denver, CO delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,134 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Denver, CO hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, New York, NY and Denver, CO are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Denver, CO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.