Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Dubuque, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Dubuque, IA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,443 per month in New York, NY vs $1,834 in Dubuque, IA, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,945 per month in New York, NY vs $2,561 in Dubuque, IA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,447 per month in New York, NY vs $3,287 in Dubuque, IA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 142% more than Dubuque, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Dubuque, IA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 234%, Dubuque, IA by 38%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.45 $30.45

$15.19 $15.19

100.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$146 $146

$49.38 $49.38

195.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.71 $12.71

$10.12 $10.12

25.59%

Cappuccino

$5.87 $5.87

$4.68 $4.68

25.43%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$2.02 $2.02

59.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.02 $1.02

165.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$3.04 $3.04

169.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.89 $11.89

$4.60 $4.60

158.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$0.84 $0.84

85.71%

White Bread (500g)

$5.01 $5.01

$2.28 $2.28

119.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.33 $8.33

$3.19 $3.19

161.13%

Eggs

$7.02 $7.02

$2.86 $2.86

145.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$9.81 $9.81

77.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.72 $16.72

$9.99 $9.99

67.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.01 $20.01

$14.34 $14.34

39.54%

Apples (1kg)

$7.72 $7.72

$3.71 $3.71

108.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.17 $1.17

111.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$3.74 $3.74

52.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$3.34 $3.34

92.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$1.80 $1.80

108.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.11 $2.11

85.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.89 $1.89

60.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.05 $2.05

25.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.84 $18.84

$8.74 $8.74

115.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$13.74 $13.74

43.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.90 $1.90

57.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$2.81 $2.81

38.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.40 $1.40

105.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$45.44 $45.44

192.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$2.87 $2.87

78.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.58 $1.58

39.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.93 $41.93

$20.72 $20.72

102.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.81 $0.81

20.99%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$29.4K $29.4K

20.34%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$22.6K $22.6K

21.62%

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

$184 $184

$182 $182

1.45%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$48.81 $48.81

22.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 $62.4

$64.6 $64.6

-3.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$37.39 $37.39

273.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.0 $65.0

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$8.44 $8.44

140.88%

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

$3,153 $3,153

$804 $804

291.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.8K $56.8K

$24.3K $24.3K

134.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$42.69 $42.69

59.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.89 $47.89

$34.53 $34.53

38.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$80.0 $80.0

44.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$91.1 $91.1

90.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,125 $4,125

$962 $962

328.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,685 $2,685

$751 $751

257.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,262 $8,262

$1,383 $1,383

497.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,258 $5,258

$965 $965

444.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

$1,711 $1,711

991.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$1,746 $1,746

270.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,584 $5,584

$3,837 $3,837

45.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

4.88

31.97%

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

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

Last update for Dubuque, IA: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,125 in New York, NY versus $962 in Dubuque, IA. 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 46% 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 $146 in New York, NY versus $49.00 in Dubuque, IA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $555 vs $319 – making Dubuque, IA 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 Dubuque, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 142% more than Dubuque, IA, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,664 per month in New York, NY and $2,751 in Dubuque, IA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dubuque, IA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 192% less in Dubuque, IA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $3,153 per month in New York, NY and $804 in Dubuque, IA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Dubuque, IA, where all-in costs run around $1,834, than in New York, NY at $4,443. In Dubuque, IA it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dubuque, IA costs $1,834 versus $4,443 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Dubuque, IA. 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.