Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and El Dorado, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and El Dorado, AR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,459 in New York, NY versus $1,697 in El Dorado, AR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,988 in New York, NY versus $2,423 in El Dorado, AR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,517 in New York, NY versus $3,150 in El Dorado, AR.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 163% more expensive than in El Dorado, AR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 234% above, El Dorado, AR 27% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.11 $30.11

$17.72 $17.72

69.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$59.6 $59.6

139.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.67 $12.67

$11.56 $11.56

9.60%

Cappuccino

$6.07 $6.07

$4.88 $4.88

24.39%

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

$3.27 $3.27

$2.79 $2.79

17.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.43 $2.43

7.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$5.01 $5.01

59.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.18 $12.18

$6.03 $6.03

101.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.08 $1.08

42.59%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.40 $3.40

49.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.39 $8.39

$3.09 $3.09

171.52%

Eggs

$7.11 $7.11

$2.98 $2.98

138.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.70 $17.70

$9.44 $9.44

87.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.71 $16.71

$11.71 $11.71

42.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.85 $19.85

$16.69 $16.69

18.93%

Apples (1kg)

$7.38 $7.38

$4.29 $4.29

72.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.47 $1.47

74.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$2.87 $2.87

103.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.35 $6.35

$3.98 $3.98

59.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$1.50 $1.50

150.00%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.50 $2.50

62.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.14 $3.14

$1.97 $1.97

59.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.81 $1.81

37.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$8.26 $8.26

126.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.79 $19.79

$12.22 $12.22

61.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 $3.02

$1.67 $1.67

80.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.16 $2.16

73.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.02 $2.02

41.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.94 $4.94

$2.55 $2.55

93.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.54 $1.54

44.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.11 $42.11

$24.15 $24.15

74.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.73 $0.73

32.88%

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

$34.8K $34.8K

$24.0K $24.0K

44.98%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.9K $25.9K

7.12%

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

$180 $180

$134 $134

34.25%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$58.4 $58.4

3.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.6 $62.6

$40.46 $40.46

54.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$142 $142

$42.86 $42.86

230.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.8 $64.8

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$9.07 $9.07

120.29%

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

$3,220 $3,220

$1,026 $1,026

213.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.0K $57.0K

$19.2K $19.2K

197.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.3 $67.3

$53.4 $53.4

26.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.36 $48.36

$35.22 $35.22

37.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$81.1 $81.1

38.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 $171

$61.0 $61.0

179.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,136 $4,136

$1,589 $1,589

160.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,635 $2,635

$622 $622

323.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,333 $8,333

$2,173 $2,173

283.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,118 $5,118

$817 $817

526.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

$2,778 $2,778

571.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$2,646 $2,646

144.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,420 $5,420

$4,156 $4,156

30.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.58

-2.13%

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

Last update for New York, NY: July 19, 2026

Last update for El Dorado, AR: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,136 in New York, NY and $1,589 in El Dorado, AR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 30% 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: $143 in New York, NY vs $60.0 in El Dorado, AR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $555 vs $344 per month, with El Dorado, AR cheaper across the board.

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 El Dorado, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

El Dorado, AR is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 163% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 30% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,136 in New York, NY versus $1,589 in El Dorado, AR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 62% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $4,459 per month in New York, NY versus $1,697 in El Dorado, AR – a 163% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,697 in El Dorado, AR versus $4,459 in New York, NY, a $2,500 budget is realistic in El Dorado, AR but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes El Dorado, AR the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, El Dorado, AR 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.

Expats usually find El Dorado, AR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 163% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.