Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Ellsworth, ME Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Ellsworth, ME

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,841 in New York, NY versus $2,586 in Ellsworth, ME.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,287 in New York, NY versus $3,949 in Ellsworth, ME.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,734 in New York, NY versus $5,312 in Ellsworth, ME.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 87% more expensive than in Ellsworth, ME, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 254% above, Ellsworth, ME 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.33 $25.33

$16.52 $16.52

53.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$121 $121

17.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$15.21 $15.21

-9.40%

Cappuccino

$6.19 $6.19

$4.90 $4.90

26.33%

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

$3.69 $3.69

$3.13 $3.13

17.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.46 $2.46

20.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$8.23 $8.23

-5.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$7.99 $7.99

26.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.08 $1.08

28.70%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.71 $4.71

-2.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$8.68 $8.68

-20.05%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$3.94 $3.94

46.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$15.64 $15.64

10.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$7.52 $7.52

100.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.02 $18.02

$15.99 $15.99

12.70%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$4.93 $4.93

27.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.65 $1.65

29.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$5.85 $5.85

-0.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$6.83 $6.83

-8.05%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$6.29 $6.29

-46.10%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$3.64 $3.64

17.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.30 $3.30

-16.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.62 $2.62

-2.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$10.88 $10.88

71.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 $20.30

$14.81 $14.81

37.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.88 $1.88

67.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$2.65 $2.65

52.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.96 $1.96

51.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.02 $2.02

52.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.53 $1.53

39.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

$10.90 $10.90

281.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.93 $0.93

21.51%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$36.6K $36.6K

-3.27%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.4K $25.4K

0.71%

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

$236 $236

$175 $175

35.03%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$70.2 $70.2

5.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$78.6 $78.6

-7.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$42.28 $42.28

196.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.1 $63.1

Cinema Ticket

$23.37 $23.37

$13.88 $13.88

68.37%

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

$3,353 $3,353

$1,227 $1,227

173.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.0K $61.0K

$22.4K $22.4K

171.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$52.2 $52.2

38.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$79.2 $79.2

-34.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$104 $104

12.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$132 $132

-6.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,438 $4,438

$1,646 $1,646

169.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,045 $3,045

$1,210 $1,210

151.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,088 $9,088

$2,426 $2,426

274.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,404 $5,404

$1,822 $1,822

196.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K $18.8K

$2,676 $2,676

602.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 $6,500

$2,664 $2,664

143.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,258 $5,258

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

116.33%

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 Ellsworth, ME: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,438 in New York, NY and $1,646 in Ellsworth, ME. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $142 in New York, NY vs $121 in Ellsworth, ME for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $516 vs $448 per month, with Ellsworth, ME 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 Ellsworth, ME: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ellsworth, ME is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 87% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $7,261 in New York, NY and $3,879 in Ellsworth, ME to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,438 in New York, NY versus $1,646 in Ellsworth, ME. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,353 in New York, NY versus $1,227 in Ellsworth, ME. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ellsworth, ME – a meal for two runs $121 versus $142 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Ellsworth, ME is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Ellsworth, ME 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 Ellsworth, ME gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.