Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Freehold, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Freehold, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,438 per month in New York, NY vs $2,546 in Freehold, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,016 per month in New York, NY vs $3,720 in Freehold, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,593 per month in New York, NY vs $4,893 in Freehold, NJ, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 74% more than Freehold, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Freehold, NJ sit above the global median – New York, NY by 231%, Freehold, NJ by 90%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.91 $29.91

$19.31 $19.31

54.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 $144

$68.7 $68.7

109.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$11.07 $11.07

11.29%

Cappuccino

$6.03 $6.03

$4.59 $4.59

31.37%

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

$3.39 $3.39

$2.24 $2.24

51.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.86 $1.86

37.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.20 $8.20

$5.89 $5.89

39.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.95 $11.95

$6.32 $6.32

89.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.99 $0.99

55.56%

White Bread (500g)

$5.15 $5.15

$3.54 $3.54

45.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.43 $8.43

$4.32 $4.32

95.14%

Eggs

$6.97 $6.97

$4.14 $4.14

68.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.28 $17.28

$12.05 $12.05

43.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$11.28 $11.28

43.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.95 $19.95

$15.15 $15.15

31.68%

Apples (1kg)

$7.45 $7.45

$4.96 $4.96

50.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.63 $1.63

48.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$4.21 $4.21

39.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$4.77 $4.77

32.29%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.76 $2.76

34.78%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$2.76 $2.76

44.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.08 $2.08

53.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.13 $2.13

19.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.09 $19.09

$9.41 $9.41

102.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.24 $20.24

$14.94 $14.94

35.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.86 $1.86

60.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.29 $3.29

17.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.01 $2.01

46.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 $5.13

$3.46 $3.46

48.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.60 $1.60

37.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.64 $42.64

$29.15 $29.15

46.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.84 $0.84

13.10%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$29.4K $29.4K

17.30%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$25.3K $25.3K

11.44%

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

$182 $182

$186 $186

-2.29%

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

$60.1 $60.1

$53.7 $53.7

11.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$66.6 $66.6

-7.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$42.16 $42.16

232.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.4 $64.4

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$13.43 $13.43

51.38%

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

$3,222 $3,222

$1,315 $1,315

145.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.2K $56.2K

$23.8K $23.8K

136.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.9 $65.9

$51.7 $51.7

27.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$39.76 $39.76

18.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$87.1 $87.1

27.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$173 $173

$114 $114

52.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,208 $4,208

$1,583 $1,583

165.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,647 $2,647

$1,371 $1,371

93.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,415 $8,415

$2,650 $2,650

217.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,170 $5,170

$2,222 $2,222

132.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.1K $20.1K

$2,742 $2,742

632.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,742 $8,742

$2,379 $2,379

267.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,144 $5,144

$3,831 $3,831

34.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.51

-1.08%

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

Last update for New York, NY: April 20, 2026

Last update for Freehold, NJ: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,208 in New York, NY versus $1,583 in Freehold, NJ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 34% higher in New York, NY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $144 in New York, NY versus $69 in Freehold, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $386 – making Freehold, NJ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Freehold, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 74%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,657 per month in New York, NY and $3,819 in Freehold, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Freehold, NJ, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $144 in New York, NY and $69.0 in Freehold, NJ. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 44% more in New York, NY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,438 in New York, NY and $2,546 in Freehold, NJ. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Freehold, NJ – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Freehold, NJ. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.