Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Florence, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Florence, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,443 in New York, NY versus $2,536 in Florence, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,945 in New York, NY versus $3,707 in Florence, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,447 in New York, NY versus $4,878 in Florence, SC.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 75% more expensive than in Florence, SC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 234% above, Florence, SC 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.45 $30.45

$14.98 $14.98

103.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$146 $146

$65.8 $65.8

121.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.71 $12.71

$11.14 $11.14

14.09%

Cappuccino

$5.87 $5.87

$5.22 $5.22

12.45%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$2.34 $2.34

37.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.04 $2.04

32.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$3.96 $3.96

106.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.89 $11.89

$5.96 $5.96

99.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$0.99 $0.99

57.58%

White Bread (500g)

$5.01 $5.01

$3.22 $3.22

55.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.33 $8.33

$4.37 $4.37

90.62%

Eggs

$7.02 $7.02

$5.80 $5.80

21.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$8.80 $8.80

97.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.72 $16.72

$18.84 $18.84

-11.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.01 $20.01

$22.67 $22.67

-11.73%

Apples (1kg)

$7.72 $7.72

$4.30 $4.30

79.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.35 $1.35

82.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$4.35 $4.35

31.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$4.44 $4.44

44.59%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.19 $2.19

71.23%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.46 $4.46

-12.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.94 $1.94

56.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.04 $2.04

25.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.84 $18.84

$6.57 $6.57

186.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$14.30 $14.30

37.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.70 $1.70

76.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.03 $3.03

28.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.95 $1.95

47.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.96 $3.96

29.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.32 $2.32

-5.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.93 $41.93

$29.72 $29.72

41.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.80 $0.80

22.50%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$28.8K $28.8K

22.83%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$24.7K $24.7K

11.34%

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

$184 $184

$182 $182

1.49%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$52.9 $52.9

13.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 $62.4

$69.6 $69.6

-10.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$43.08 $43.08

223.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.0 $65.0

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$11.76 $11.76

72.87%

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

$3,153 $3,153

$1,454 $1,454

116.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.8K $56.8K

$23.5K $23.5K

142.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$39.83 $39.83

70.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.89 $47.89

$29.65 $29.65

61.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$101 $101

13.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$116 $116

50.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,125 $4,125

$762 $762

441.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,685 $2,685

$1,360 $1,360

97.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,262 $8,262

$4,057 $4,057

103.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,258 $5,258

$2,234 $2,234

135.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

$1,567 $1,567

1091.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$1,539 $1,539

319.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,584 $5,584

$3,127 $3,127

78.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.45

-0.16%

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

Last update for New York, NY: July 25, 2026

Last update for Florence, SC: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,125 in New York, NY and $762 in Florence, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 79% 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: $146 in New York, NY vs $66.0 in Florence, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $555 vs $431 per month, with Florence, SC 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 Florence, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Florence, SC wins on cost – living expenses run 75% lower than in New York, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Florence, SC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 79% 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: $4,125 in New York, NY versus $762 in Florence, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,153 in New York, NY versus $1,454 in Florence, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Florence, SC – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $146 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,536 in Florence, SC versus $4,443 in New York, NY, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Florence, SC but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Florence, SC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Florence, SC delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,536 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Florence, SC hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Florence, SC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.