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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,503 in New York, NY versus $2,881 in Downey, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,077 in New York, NY versus $4,508 in Downey, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,650 in New York, NY versus $6,135 in Downey, CA.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 56% more expensive than Downey, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 236% above, Downey, CA 115% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$19.68 $19.68

53.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$85.8 $85.8

65.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$14.56 $14.56

-13.12%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$5.36 $5.36

8.40%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.74 $2.74

18.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.97 $1.97

30.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$7.14 $7.14

14.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$7.92 $7.92

49.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.07 $1.07

42.99%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$3.94 $3.94

33.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$4.64 $4.64

79.74%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$4.66 $4.66

55.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$10.81 $10.81

59.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$13.17 $13.17

23.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$14.30 $14.30

38.60%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$3.55 $3.55

113.24%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.74 $1.74

39.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$4.11 $4.11

41.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.70 $5.70

12.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.30 $3.30

17.27%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.31 $3.31

22.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.52 $1.52

105.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.16 $2.16

13.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$10.88 $10.88

77.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$14.71 $14.71

35.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.92 $1.92

55.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.52 $3.52

5.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.94 $1.94

46.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$6.57 $6.57

-22.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.70 $1.70

24.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$28.98 $28.98

46.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.28 $1.28

-24.22%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$23.8K $23.8K

45.92%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$23.8K $23.8K

16.98%

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

$181 $181

$160 $160

13.18%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$45.72 $45.72

31.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$60.6 $60.6

3.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$34.61 $34.61

313.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$13.98 $13.98

42.92%

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

$3,216 $3,216

$1,195 $1,195

169.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$23.3K $23.3K

145.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$56.3 $56.3

19.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$35.35 $35.35

34.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$86.8 $86.8

28.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$100 $100

67.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$1,781 $1,781

129.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$1,675 $1,675

60.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$3,651 $3,651

131.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$3,361 $3,361

52.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$5,767 $5,767

215.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

$5,767 $5,767

9.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

$4,294 $4,294

29.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.64

-3.01%

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

Last update for New York, NY: June 1, 2026

Last update for Downey, CA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,092 in New York, NY and $1,781 in Downey, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 29% 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: $142 in New York, NY vs $86.0 in Downey, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $396 per month, with Downey, CA 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 Downey, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Downey, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

New York, NY pays 29% more on average, 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: $4,092 in New York, NY versus $1,781 in Downey, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $4,503 per month in New York, NY versus $2,881 in Downey, CA – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Downey, CA 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.

Safety-wise, New York, NY and Downey, CA 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 Downey, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.