Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Duluth, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Duluth, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,841 per month in New York, NY vs $2,175 in Duluth, MN, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,287 per month in New York, NY vs $3,574 in Duluth, MN, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,734 per month in New York, NY vs $4,973 in Duluth, MN, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 123% more than Duluth, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Duluth, MN sit above the global median – New York, NY by 254%, Duluth, MN by 59%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.33 $25.33

$20.31 $20.31

24.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$67.6 $67.6

110.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$10.02 $10.02

37.52%

Cappuccino

$6.19 $6.19

$5.25 $5.25

17.90%

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

$3.69 $3.69

$2.54 $2.54

45.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.80 $1.80

64.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$6.58 $6.58

17.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$7.79 $7.79

30.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.88 $0.88

57.95%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$2.93 $2.93

56.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$3.92 $3.92

77.04%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$3.91 $3.91

48.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$10.31 $10.31

67.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$10.43 $10.43

44.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.02 $18.02

$19.23 $19.23

-6.29%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$5.10 $5.10

23.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.49 $1.49

42.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$2.79 $2.79

107.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$4.31 $4.31

45.71%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$1.10 $1.10

208.18%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$2.09 $2.09

104.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.11 $1.11

149.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.41 $1.41

81.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$13.16 $13.16

42.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 $20.30

$15.95 $15.95

27.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.74 $1.74

81.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$2.74 $2.74

47.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.85 $1.85

60.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

$40.75 $40.75

239.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$4.92 $4.92

-37.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.50 $1.50

42.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

$24.20 $24.20

71.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.92 $0.92

22.83%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$22.8K $22.8K

55.49%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$23.5K $23.5K

9.01%

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

$236 $236

$156 $156

51.64%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$44.26 $44.26

66.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$66.8 $66.8

8.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$63.2 $63.2

97.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.1 $63.1

$26.10 $26.10

141.61%

Cinema Ticket

$23.37 $23.37

$11.31 $11.31

106.63%

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

$3,353 $3,353

$1,033 $1,033

224.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.0K $61.0K

$10.0K $10.0K

508.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$57.1 $57.1

26.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$44.73 $44.73

16.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$98.1 $98.1

18.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$85.3 $85.3

45.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,438 $4,438

$1,297 $1,297

242.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,045 $3,045

$1,000 $1,000

204.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,088 $9,088

$2,301 $2,301

294.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,404 $5,404

$2,215 $2,215

143.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K $18.8K

$2,415 $2,415

678.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 $6,500

$2,351 $2,351

176.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,258 $5,258

$3,735 $3,735

40.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.19

4.85%

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

Last update for New York, NY: September 12, 2026

Last update for Duluth, MN: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,438 in New York, NY versus $1,297 in Duluth, MN. 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 41% 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 $142 in New York, NY versus $68.0 in Duluth, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $516 vs $352 – making Duluth, MN 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 Duluth, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 123%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,261 per month in New York, NY and $3,262 in Duluth, MN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,841 in New York, NY and $2,175 in Duluth, MN. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 239% less in Duluth, MN. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Duluth, MN, where all-in costs run around $2,175, than in New York, NY at $4,841. In Duluth, MN it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Duluth, MN – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Duluth, MN. 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.