Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Fort St John, BC

For one person, living is cheaper in Fort St John, BC: $1,913 a month against $4,950 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $36,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,950
/mo nomad
Fort St John, BC
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,913
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New York, NY and in Fort St John, BC

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in New York, NY and in Fort St John, BC actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,950 in New York, NY versus $1,913 in Fort St John, BC.

  • New York, NY $4,950
  • Fort St John, BC $1,913

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,265 in New York, NY versus $2,956 in Fort St John, BC.

  • New York, NY $7,265
  • Fort St John, BC $2,956

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,581 in New York, NY versus $4,000 in Fort St John, BC.

  • New York, NY $9,581
  • Fort St John, BC $4,000

Living in New York, NY is roughly 159% more expensive than in Fort St John, BC, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 267% above, Fort St John, BC 42% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Fort St John, BC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.65 $24.65
$17.24 CA$24.37
42.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 $122
$41.68 CA$58.9
191.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.91 $13.91
$9.28 CA$13.11
49.89%
Cappuccino
$6.59 $6.59
$3.84 CA$5.43
71.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 $3.84
$1.71 CA$2.42
124.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.20 CA$1.70
139.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.79 $7.79
$6.20 CA$8.76
25.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.85 $9.85
$4.61 CA$6.51
113.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Fort St John, BC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 $1.38
$3.36 CA$4.75
-58.93%
White Bread (500g)
$4.68 $4.68
$2.77 CA$3.91
68.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.54 $7.54
$3.70 CA$5.23
103.78%
Eggs
$5.93 $5.93
$3.93 CA$5.56
50.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.83 $18.83
$11.80 CA$16.69
59.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.36 $17.36
$13.63 CA$19.27
27.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.51 $18.51
$18.56 CA$26.23
-0.27%
Apples (1kg)
$6.74 $6.74
$5.70 CA$8.06
18.25%
Banana (1kg)
$2.09 $2.09
$0.67 CA$0.95
211.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.07 $6.07
$3.75 CA$5.30
61.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.74 $6.74
$3.50 CA$4.95
92.57%
Potato (1kg)
$4.05 $4.05
$2.73 CA$3.86
48.35%
Onion (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$2.82 CA$3.99
54.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.89 $2.89
$2.03 CA$2.87
42.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.60 $2.60
$2.51 CA$3.54
3.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.72 $18.72
$14.53 CA$20.55
28.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.06 $20.06
$20.83 CA$29.44
-3.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$4.98 CA$7.04
-34.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 $3.73
$5.51 CA$7.80
-32.30%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Fort St John, BC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.06 $3.06
$1.37 CA$1.94
123.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$140 $140
$28.24 CA$39.92
397.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 $3.04
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.82 $41.82
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.17 CA$1.65
-4.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K $35.5K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Fort St John, BC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$124 CA$175
76.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$73.2 $73.2
$96.6 CA$137
-24.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.0 $72.0
$59.4 CA$83.9
21.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Fort St John, BC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$123 $123
$13.11 CA$18.53
835.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$67.7 $67.7
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.85 $22.85
$10.56 CA$14.93
116.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Fort St John, BC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,333 $3,333
$707 CA$1,000
371.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$60.0K $60.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Fort St John, BC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.2 $75.2
$71.3 CA$101
5.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$46.86 CA$66.3
11.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 $122
$105 CA$149
15.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 $133
$139 CA$197
-4.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Fort St John, BC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,389 $4,389
$737 CA$1,041
495.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,130 $3,130
$692 CA$979
352.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,918 $8,918
$1,520 CA$2,149
486.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,354 $5,354
$1,380 CA$1,951
287.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.4K $19.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,806 $6,806
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Fort St John, BC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,343 $5,343
$3,001 CA$4,243
78.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
6.1
11.80%

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

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

Last update for Fort St John, BC: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3.1K
Fort St John, BC
$692 77.9% $2.4K
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$545
Fort St John, BC
$446 18.2% $99
Eating Out
New York, NY
$404
Fort St John, BC
$264 34.7% $140
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$364
Fort St John, BC
$280 23.2% $84
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$172
Fort St John, BC
$163 5.2% $9
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$168
Fort St John, BC
$34 79.7% $134
Getting Around
New York, NY
$167
Fort St John, BC
$34 * 79.7% $133

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,389 in New York, NY and $737 in Fort St John, BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 78% 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: $122 in New York, NY vs $42.00 in Fort St John, BC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $545 vs $446 per month, with Fort St John, BC cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇨🇦 Fort St John, BC
🕒 Local time
19:12 7:12 PM
16:12 4:12 PM
3 h behind New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
18,609
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New York, NY Fort St John, BC 3,760 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • New York, NY
  • Fort St John, BC

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Fort St John, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fort St John, BC cheaper than New York, NY?
Fort St John, BC is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 159% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: New York, NY or Fort St John, BC?
Average pay runs 78% 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.
What is the rent difference between New York, NY and Fort St John, BC?
Rent for a central apartment: $4,389 in New York, NY versus $737 in Fort St John, BC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in New York, NY or in Fort St John, BC?
Dining out is cheaper in Fort St John, BC – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $122 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in New York, NY and in Fort St John, BC?
All in, you'll spend $4,950 per month in New York, NY versus $1,913 in Fort St John, BC – a 159% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in New York, NY or in Fort St John, BC?
At $1,913 in Fort St John, BC versus $4,950 in New York, NY, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Fort St John, BC but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Fort St John, BC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is New York, NY or Fort St John, BC more family-friendly?
For families, Fort St John, BC 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Fort St John, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 159% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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