Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and El Cajon, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and El Cajon, CA

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 46.8% more expensive than El Cajon, CA without rent, and 36.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 43.1% more expensive than El Cajon, CA without rent, and 40.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$19.68 $19.68
50.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$79.6 $79.6
81.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$15.09 $15.09
-17.63%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.17 $5.17
12.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$3.02 $3.02
7.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.55 $2.55
1.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$7.13 $7.13
15.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$8.07 $8.07
46.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.16 $1.16
34.48%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$4.3 $4.3
21.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$4.44 $4.44
82.66%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$3.9 $3.9
85.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$13.55 $13.55
26.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$15.95 $15.95
1.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$15.72 $15.72
27.35%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$4.44 $4.44
68.69%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.71 $1.71
49.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$3.91 $3.91
48.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$4.77 $4.77
36.69%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.08 $3.08
20.78%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$2.37 $2.37
64.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.1 $2.1
46.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.37 $2.37
8.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$12.06 $12.06
59.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$15.29 $15.29
16.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.81 $1.81
66.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.55 $2.55
45.88%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
El Cajon, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.93 $1.93
51.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$2.92 $2.92
75.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.72 $1.72
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$28.43 $28.43
46.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.25 $1.25
-24.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35K $35K
$25.3K $25.3K
38.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$27.5K $27.5K
0.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$155 $155
14.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$54.9 $54.9
9.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$71.1 $71.1
-10.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$43.44 $43.44
223.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$15.29 $15.29
30.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$1,500 $1,500
113.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$28.9K $28.9K
95.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$46.79 $46.79
40.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$33.14 $33.14
47.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$99.6 $99.6
11.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$101 $101
70.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
El Cajon, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$2,428 $2,428
71.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$1,939 $1,939
36.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$2,953 $2,953
184.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$4,029 $4,029
30.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$2,755 $2,755
467.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$2,148 $2,148
419.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$4,070 $4,070
37.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.39
0.78%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

Last update for El Cajon, CA: October 27, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.