๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,438 in New York, NY versus $2,584 in Dickinson, ND.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,016 in New York, NY versus $3,794 in Dickinson, ND.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,593 in New York, NY versus $5,003 in Dickinson, ND.
๐Living in New York, NY is roughly 72% more expensive than Dickinson, ND, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY231% above, Dickinson, ND93% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
New York, NY
Dickinson, ND
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.91$29.91
$19.19$19.19
55.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144$144
$76.2$76.2
88.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.32$12.32
$10.87$10.87
13.34%
Cappuccino
$6.03$6.03
$4.98$4.98
21.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39$3.39
$2.56$2.56
32.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56$2.56
$2.04$2.04
25.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.20$8.20
$6.15$6.15
33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.95$11.95
$6.90$6.90
73.19%
๐ Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Dickinson, ND
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54$1.54
$1.03$1.03
49.51%
White Bread(500g)
$5.15$5.15
$3.42$3.42
50.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$8.43$8.43
$2.87$2.87
193.73%
Eggs
$6.97$6.97
$4.13$4.13
68.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.28$17.28
$12.14$12.14
42.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.24$16.24
$11.49$11.49
41.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.95$19.95
$15.46$15.46
29.04%
Apples(1kg)
$7.45$7.45
$5.03$5.03
48.11%
Banana(1kg)
$2.42$2.42
$1.57$1.57
54.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.87$5.87
$2.53$2.53
132.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.31$6.31
$4.68$4.68
34.83%
Potato(1kg)
$3.72$3.72
$2.78$2.78
33.81%
Onion(1kg)
$3.99$3.99
$2.83$2.83
40.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.19$3.19
$2.04$2.04
56.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55$2.55
$2.20$2.20
15.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.09$19.09
$9.63$9.63
98.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.24$20.24
$14.86$14.86
36.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.99$2.99
$1.84$1.84
62.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87$3.87
$3.42$3.42
13.16%
๐ Getting Around
New York, NY
Dickinson, ND
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.95$2.95
$2.01$2.01
46.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$131$131
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.13$5.13
$3.49$3.49
46.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.20$2.20
$1.65$1.65
33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.64$42.64
$28.69$28.69
48.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95$0.95
$0.85$0.85
11.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K$34.5K
$29.3K$29.3K
17.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K$28.2K
$25.7K$25.7K
9.72%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Dickinson, ND
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$182$182
$191$191
-4.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.1$60.1
$52.0$52.0
15.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.9$61.9
$68.1$68.1
-9.03%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Dickinson, ND
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$140$140
$42.16$42.16
232.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$64.4$64.4
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.33$20.33
$13.29$13.29
52.97%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Dickinson, ND
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$3,222$3,222
$1,294$1,294
148.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$56.2K$56.2K
$23.9K$23.9K
135.42%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Dickinson, ND
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.9$65.9
$51.3$51.3
28.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.20$47.20
$39.22$39.22
20.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111$111
$86.4$86.4
28.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$173$173
$111$111
56.42%
๐ Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Dickinson, ND
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,208$4,208
$1,575$1,575
167.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,647$2,647
$1,337$1,337
97.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$8,415$8,415
$2,589$2,589
225.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$5,170$5,170
$2,237$2,237
131.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$20.1K$20.1K
$1,628$1,628
1134.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,742$8,742
$1,610$1,610
443.10%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Dickinson, ND
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,144$5,144
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.44
6.51
-1.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for New York, NY: April 20, 2026
Last update for Dickinson, ND: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,208 in New York, NY and $1,575 in Dickinson, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $144 in New York, NY vs $76 in Dickinson, ND for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $375 per month, with Dickinson, ND 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 Dickinson, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dickinson, ND cheaper than New York, NY?
Dickinson, ND is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 72% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $6,657 in New York, NY and $3,876 in Dickinson, ND to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between New York, NY and Dickinson, ND?
Rent for a central apartment: $4,208 in New York, NY versus $1,575 in Dickinson, ND. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in New York, NY and Dickinson, ND?
Supermarket bills run roughly 48% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in New York, NY vs Dickinson, ND?
All in, you'll spend $4,438 per month in New York, NY versus $2,584 in Dickinson, ND โ a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in New York, NY or Dickinson, ND?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Dickinson, ND is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is New York, NY or Dickinson, ND more family-friendly?
For families, Dickinson, ND 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.
Which city is safer, New York, NY or Dickinson, ND?
Safety-wise, New York, NY and Dickinson, ND are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Dickinson, ND gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 72% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
New York, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared