Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Foster City, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Foster City, CA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: New York, NY is 45.2% more expensive than Foster City, CA without rent, and 9.7% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: New York, NY is 33% more expensive than Foster City, CA without rent, and 26.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
New York, NY
Foster City, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$15.05 $15.05
97.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$69.5 $69.5
107.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$11.1 $11.1
11.98%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$4.94 $4.94
18.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$3.33 $3.33
-2.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.5 $2.5
3.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$9.2 $9.2
-10.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$10.89 $10.89
8.91%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Foster City, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.05 $1.05
48.57%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$3.33 $3.33
57.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$2.24 $2.24
262.05%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$3.06 $3.06
136.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$16.24 $16.24
5.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$11.23 $11.23
44.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$20.13 $20.13
-0.55%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$6.21 $6.21
20.61%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.47 $2.47
3.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$4.75 $4.75
22.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$3.25 $3.25
100.62%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.34 $3.34
11.38%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$4.36 $4.36
-10.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$3.03 $3.03
1.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.46 $1.46
76.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$11.38 $11.38
68.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$11.99 $11.99
48.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.33 $2.33
29.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.31 $3.31
12.39%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
New York, NY
Foster City, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.64 $3.64
-19.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
$191 $191
-29.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$3.54 $3.54
44.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.85 $1.85
16.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$30.16 $30.16
37.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.28 $1.28
-25.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35K $35K
$29.9K $29.9K
17.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$26.5K $26.5K
4.54%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Foster City, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$270 $270
-33.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$49.14 $49.14
22.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$68.9 $68.9
-7.41%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Foster City, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$42.62 $42.62
230.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$15.35 $15.35
29.64%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Foster City, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$1,978 $1,978
62.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$26.4K $26.4K
113.79%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Foster City, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$46.18 $46.18
42.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$29.75 $29.75
63.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$65.7 $65.7
69.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$49.86 $49.86
244.12%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Foster City, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$3,056 $3,056
36.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$2,558 $2,558
3.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$4,515 $4,515
86.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$4,522 $4,522
16.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$10.8K $10.8K
44.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$9,784 $9,784
14.03%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Foster City, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$7,087 $7,087
-20.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.51
-1.08%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

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

Last update for Foster City, CA: October 27, 2025

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