Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Duncan BC

For one person, living is cheaper in Duncan BC: $2,112 a month against $4,950 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $34,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,950
/mo nomad
Duncan BC
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,112
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New York, NY and in Duncan BC

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in New York, NY and in Duncan BC actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,950 in New York, NY versus $2,112 in Duncan BC.

  • New York, NY $4,950
  • Duncan BC $2,112

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,265 in New York, NY versus $3,371 in Duncan BC.

  • New York, NY $7,265
  • Duncan BC $3,371

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,581 in New York, NY versus $4,630 in Duncan BC.

  • New York, NY $9,581
  • Duncan BC $4,630

Living in New York, NY is roughly 134% more expensive than in Duncan BC, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 267% above, Duncan BC 56% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Duncan BC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.65 $24.65
$17.26 CA$24.40
42.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 $122
$69.2 CA$97.8
75.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.91 $13.91
$10.57 CA$14.95
31.60%
Cappuccino
$6.59 $6.59
$4.06 CA$5.73
62.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 $3.84
$2.13 CA$3.01
80.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.67 CA$2.36
71.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.79 $7.79
$5.40 CA$7.63
44.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.85 $9.85
$5.52 CA$7.80
78.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Duncan BC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.56 CA$2.20
-11.54%
White Bread (500g)
$4.68 $4.68
$2.60 CA$3.68
80.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.54 $7.54
$4.35 CA$6.15
73.33%
Eggs
$5.93 $5.93
$4.04 CA$5.71
46.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.83 $18.83
$11.99 CA$16.95
57.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.36 $17.36
$13.34 CA$18.85
30.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.51 $18.51
$14.24 CA$20.13
29.99%
Apples (1kg)
$6.74 $6.74
$4.02 CA$5.69
67.66%
Banana (1kg)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.31 CA$1.85
59.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.07 $6.07
$3.77 CA$5.33
61.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.74 $6.74
$3.90 CA$5.52
72.82%
Potato (1kg)
$4.05 $4.05
$2.71 CA$3.83
49.45%
Onion (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$2.81 CA$3.97
55.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.89 $2.89
$2.54 CA$3.58
13.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.60 $2.60
$1.57 CA$2.22
65.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.72 $18.72
$13.78 CA$19.49
35.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.06 $20.06
$11.71 CA$16.56
71.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.64 CA$3.73
23.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 $3.73
$2.96 CA$4.19
26.01%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Duncan BC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.06 $3.06
$1.98 CA$2.80
54.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$140 $140
$58.7 CA$83.0
139.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.70 CA$3.82
12.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.58 CA$2.24
36.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.82 $41.82
$30.64 CA$43.32
36.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.25 CA$1.76
-10.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K $35.5K
$25.4K CA$35.9K
39.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$19.7K CA$27.8K
32.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Duncan BC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$82.6 CA$117
165.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$73.2 $73.2
$36.70 CA$51.9
99.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.0 $72.0
$50.9 CA$72.0
41.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Duncan BC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$123 $123
$59.4 CA$84.0
106.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$67.7 $67.7
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.85 $22.85
$12.41 CA$17.54
84.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Duncan BC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,333 $3,333
$1,032 CA$1,459
223.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$60.0K $60.0K
$9,936 CA$14.0K
503.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Duncan BC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.2 $75.2
$56.5 CA$79.8
33.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$32.64 CA$46.14
60.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 $122
$93.9 CA$133
29.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 $133
$94.3 CA$133
41.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Duncan BC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,389 $4,389
$1,214 CA$1,716
261.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,130 $3,130
$1,015 CA$1,435
208.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,918 $8,918
$2,261 CA$3,196
294.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,354 $5,354
$2,080 CA$2,940
157.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.4K $19.4K
$4,345 CA$6,142
346.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,806 $6,806
$3,513 CA$4,967
93.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Duncan BC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,343 $5,343
$3,075 CA$4,347
73.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
4.28
59.35%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 13, 2026

Last update for Duncan BC: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3.1K
Duncan BC
$1K 67.6% $2.1K
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$545
Duncan BC
$368 32.4% $177
Eating Out
New York, NY
$404
Duncan BC
$272 32.7% $132
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$364
Duncan BC
$170 53.3% $194
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$172
Duncan BC
$125 27.5% $47
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$168
Duncan BC
$84 50% $84
Getting Around
New York, NY
$167
Duncan BC
$77 53.6% $89

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,389 in New York, NY and $1,214 in Duncan BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 74% 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: $122 in New York, NY vs $69.0 in Duncan BC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $545 vs $368 per month, with Duncan BC cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇨🇦 Duncan BC
🕒 Local time
16:58 4:58 PM
13:58 1:58 PM
3 h behind New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
22,199
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New York, NY Duncan BC 3,940 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • New York, NY
  • Duncan BC

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Duncan BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Duncan BC cheaper than New York, NY?
Duncan BC is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 134% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: New York, NY or Duncan BC?
Average pay runs 74% higher in New York, NY, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between New York, NY and Duncan BC?
Rent for a central apartment: $4,389 in New York, NY versus $1,214 in Duncan BC. 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 in Duncan BC?
Supermarket bills run roughly 48% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in New York, NY or in Duncan BC?
Dining out is cheaper in Duncan BC – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $122 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in New York, NY or in Duncan BC?
At $2,112 in Duncan BC versus $4,950 in New York, NY, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Duncan BC but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Duncan BC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is New York, NY or Duncan BC more family-friendly?
For families, Duncan BC 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Duncan BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 134% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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