Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Edwardsville, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Edwardsville, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,415 per month in New York, NY vs $2,680 in Edwardsville, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,980 per month in New York, NY vs $3,930 in Edwardsville, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,544 per month in New York, NY vs $5,181 in Edwardsville, IL, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 65% more than Edwardsville, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Edwardsville, IL sit above the global median – New York, NY by 230%, Edwardsville, IL by 101%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.48 $29.48

$18.83 $18.83

56.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$75.3 $75.3

89.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.41 $12.41

$11.05 $11.05

12.31%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$5.23 $5.23

16.25%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$2.61 $2.61

27.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.94 $1.94

39.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.17 $8.17

$5.83 $5.83

40.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.04 $12.04

$6.83 $6.83

76.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

$0.76 $0.76

113.16%

White Bread (500g)

$5.08 $5.08

$3.47 $3.47

46.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.12 $8.12

$4.39 $4.39

84.97%

Eggs

$6.87 $6.87

$4.28 $4.28

60.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$12.21 $12.21

44.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$11.34 $11.34

44.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.81 $19.81

$15.28 $15.28

29.65%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 $7.66

$4.82 $4.82

58.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.59 $1.59

59.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$4.13 $4.13

35.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.84 $4.84

32.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.78 $2.78

38.13%

Onion (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.88 $2.88

42.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.00 $2.00

54.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.13 $2.13

16.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.83 $18.83

$9.34 $9.34

101.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$12.83 $12.83

53.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.83 $1.83

63.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.31 $3.31

13.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.96 $1.96

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$102 $102

30.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.47 $3.47

45.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.66 $1.66

32.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.75 $42.75

$29.59 $29.59

44.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.83 $0.83

16.87%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$29.7K $29.7K

18.03%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$25.1K $25.1K

12.63%

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

$182 $182

$188 $188

-3.10%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$53.5 $53.5

12.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 $63.5

$66.9 $66.9

-5.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$42.88 $42.88

232.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 $63.6

Cinema Ticket

$19.89 $19.89

$13.68 $13.68

45.39%

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

$3,129 $3,129

$1,308 $1,308

139.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$58.2K $58.2K

$23.4K $23.4K

149.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$42.71 $42.71

58.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$40.25 $40.25

17.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$76.4 $76.4

47.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$81.5 $81.5

113.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,145 $4,145

$1,633 $1,633

153.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,352 $1,352

99.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,255 $8,255

$2,616 $2,616

215.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,298 $5,298

$2,246 $2,246

135.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.5K $18.5K

$3,046 $3,046

508.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,505 $6,505

$2,478 $2,478

162.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,520 $5,520

$4,973 $4,973

10.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.51

-1.08%

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

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

Last update for Edwardsville, IL: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,145 in New York, NY versus $1,633 in Edwardsville, IL. 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 $75.0 in Edwardsville, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $553 vs $380 – making Edwardsville, IL 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 Edwardsville, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 65%, 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 $6,623 per month in New York, NY and $4,019 in Edwardsville, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Edwardsville, IL, 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 $4,415 in New York, NY and $2,680 in Edwardsville, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 30% less in Edwardsville, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,415 in New York, NY and $2,680 in Edwardsville, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

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 Edwardsville, IL. 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.