😐A single person spends $4,557 per month in New York, NY vs $1,803 in Dubuque, IA, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $7,115 per month in New York, NY vs $2,517 in Dubuque, IA, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $9,674 per month in New York, NY vs $3,232 in Dubuque, IA, rent included.
😐New York, NY costs about 153% 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 240%, Dubuque, IA by 35%.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Dubuque, IA
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.90$29.90
$15.45$15.45
93.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$143$143
$50.4$50.4
183.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.67$12.67
$9.98$9.98
26.95%
Cappuccino
$5.78$5.78
$4.83$4.83
19.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40$3.40
$2.03$2.03
67.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69$2.69
$0.94$0.94
186.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.07$8.07
$3.05$3.05
164.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86$11.86
$4.57$4.57
159.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Dubuque, IA
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61$1.61
$0.82$0.82
96.34%
White Bread(500g)
$5.14$5.14
$2.35$2.35
118.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$8.17$8.17
$3.09$3.09
164.40%
Eggs
$7.16$7.16
$2.88$2.88
148.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.24$17.24
$9.83$9.83
75.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.17$16.17
$10.26$10.26
57.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.46$20.46
$14.17$14.17
44.39%
Apples(1kg)
$7.33$7.33
$3.60$3.60
103.61%
Banana(1kg)
$2.42$2.42
$1.13$1.13
114.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.75$5.75
$3.71$3.71
54.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.52$6.52
$3.42$3.42
90.64%
Potato(1kg)
$3.81$3.81
$1.76$1.76
116.48%
Onion(1kg)
$3.96$3.96
$2.11$2.11
87.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.08$3.08
$1.95$1.95
57.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.46$2.46
$2.05$2.05
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.03$19.03
$8.41$8.41
126.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.16$20.16
$13.75$13.75
46.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.89$2.89
$1.90$1.90
52.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74$3.74
$2.78$2.78
34.53%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Dubuque, IA
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.86$2.86
$1.35$1.35
111.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$130$130
$44.30$44.30
193.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.97$4.97
$2.75$2.75
80.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.24$2.24
$1.63$1.63
37.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.20$42.20
$20.72$20.72
103.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96$0.96
$0.85$0.85
12.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K$34.7K
$29.6K$29.6K
17.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K$28.1K
$22.5K$22.5K
24.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Dubuque, IA
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183$183
$186$186
-1.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.5$59.5
$48.00$48.00
23.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.4$63.4
$62.9$62.9
0.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Dubuque, IA
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$140$140
$37.10$37.10
278.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9$63.9
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.98$19.98
$8.45$8.45
136.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Dubuque, IA
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$3,153$3,153
$801$801
293.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$56.3K$56.3K
$24.7K$24.7K
128.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Dubuque, IA
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.7$67.7
$42.53$42.53
59.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.48$48.48
$35.68$35.68
35.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115$115
$81.1$81.1
42.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170$170
$90.9$90.9
86.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Dubuque, IA
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,113$4,113
$960$960
328.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,651$2,651
$744$744
256.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$8,230$8,230
$1,415$1,415
481.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$5,113$5,113
$979$979
422.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$19.3K$19.3K
$1,748$1,748
1006.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,754$8,754
$1,694$1,694
416.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Dubuque, IA
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,049$5,049
$4,541$4,541
11.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.44
4.88
31.97%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para New York, NY: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Dubuque, IA: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $4,113 in New York, NY versus $960 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 11% 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 $50.0 in Dubuque, IA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $553 vs $320 – making Dubuque, IA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
New York, NY vs Dubuque, IA: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, New York, NY or Dubuque, IA?
New York, NY costs about 153% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in New York, NY vs Dubuque, IA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,835 per month in New York, NY and $2,704 in Dubuque, IA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, New York, NY or Dubuque, IA?
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.
How expensive is transport in New York, NY vs Dubuque, IA?
Public transport costs about 193% less in Dubuque, IA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in New York, NY and Dubuque, IA?
Kindergarten costs $3,153 per month in New York, NY and $801 in Dubuque, IA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in New York, NY or Dubuque, IA?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Dubuque, IA, where all-in costs run around $1,803, than in New York, NY at $4,557. In Dubuque, IA it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, New York, NY or Dubuque, IA?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dubuque, IA costs $1,803 versus $4,557 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is New York, NY compared to Dubuque, IA?
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.
Should I move to New York, NY or Dubuque, IA?
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.
New York, NY vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado