Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and George Town

For one person, living is cheaper in George Town: $4,862 a month against $5,142 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in New York, NY outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$5,142
/mo nomad
George Town
🇰🇾 Cayman Islands
$4,862
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New York, NY and in George Town

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 George Town actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $5,142 in New York, NY versus $4,862 in George Town.

  • New York, NY $5,142
  • George Town $4,862

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,455 in New York, NY versus $7,338 in George Town.

  • New York, NY $7,455
  • George Town $7,338

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,767 in New York, NY versus $9,814 in George Town.

  • New York, NY $9,767
  • George Town $9,814

Living in New York, NY is roughly 6% more expensive than in George Town, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 284% above, George Town 263% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
George Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.46 $26.46
$30.59 KYD 25.09
-13.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119 $119
$116 KYD 94.7
2.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.43 $14.43
$16.82 KYD 13.79
-14.21%
Cappuccino
$6.55 $6.55
$7.14 KYD 5.86
-8.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 $3.84
$3.06 KYD 2.51
25.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 $3.00
$2.84 KYD 2.33
5.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.27 $8.27
$7.11 KYD 5.83
16.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.05 $10.05
$9.74 KYD 7.99
3.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
George Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$4.70 KYD 3.85
-72.13%
White Bread (500g)
$4.90 $4.90
$4.13 KYD 3.38
18.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.16 $7.16
$4.41 KYD 3.62
62.36%
Eggs
$5.92 $5.92
$7.21 KYD 5.91
-17.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.06 $19.06
$56.9 KYD 46.64
-66.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.38 $17.38
$19.04 KYD 15.62
-8.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.94 $18.94
$19.67 KYD 16.13
-3.71%
Apples (1kg)
$6.96 $6.96
$7.55 KYD 6.19
-7.81%
Banana (1kg)
$2.08 $2.08
$3.63 KYD 2.98
-42.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.10 $6.10
$6.19 KYD 5.07
-1.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.95 $6.95
$7.91 KYD 6.49
-12.14%
Potato (1kg)
$3.98 $3.98
$4.12 KYD 3.38
-3.40%
Onion (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$4.07 KYD 3.34
9.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.81 $2.81
$3.19 KYD 2.62
-11.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.26 KYD 1.86
11.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.27 $19.27
$14.16 KYD 11.61
36.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.67 $19.67
$25.66 KYD 21.04
-23.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$4.29 KYD 3.52
-28.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 $3.68
$5.45 KYD 4.47
-32.48%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
George Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.02 $3.02
$2.38 KYD 1.95
26.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$140 $140
$79.8 KYD 65.5
74.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.07 $3.07
$19.15 KYD 15.70
-83.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 $2.13
$3.74 KYD 3.07
-43.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.21 $41.21
$44.62 KYD 36.59
-7.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.58 KYD 1.30
-29.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K $35.0K
$42.1K KYD 34.6K
-16.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$42.0K KYD 34.4K
-39.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
George Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 $217
$450 KYD 369
-51.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$74.0 $74.0
$120 KYD 98.2
-38.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.5 $72.5
$113 KYD 92.6
-35.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
George Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$120 $120
$217 KYD 178
-44.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$66.9 $66.9
$34.74 KYD 28.48
92.54%
Cinema Ticket
$22.32 $22.32
$18.64 KYD 15.28
19.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
George Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,425 $3,425
$1,818 KYD 1,490
88.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$61.2K $61.2K
$26.5K KYD 21.7K
130.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
George Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.3 $76.3
$87.0 KYD 71.3
-12.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.5 $55.5
$74.1 KYD 60.8
-25.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 $119
$137 KYD 113
-13.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 $131
$146 KYD 119
-10.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
George Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,506 $4,506
$2,861 KYD 2,346
57.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,155 $3,155
$2,479 KYD 2,033
27.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,817 $8,817
$5,698 KYD 4,672
54.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,532 $5,532
$4,775 KYD 3,915
15.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.4K $19.4K
$8,919 KYD 7,314
117.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,754 $6,754
$2,270 KYD 1,861
197.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
George Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,290 $5,290
$7,223 KYD 5,923
-26.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
8
-14.75%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 3, 2026

Last update for George Town: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3.2K
George Town
$2.5K 21.4% $676
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$546
George Town
$727 33.2% $181
Eating Out
New York, NY
$422
George Town
$460 8.8% $37
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$364
George Town
$682 87.5% $318
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$172
George Town
$200 16.4% $28
Getting Around
New York, NY
$165
George Town
$127 23.1% $38
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$165
George Town
$254 53.8% $89

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,506 in New York, NY and $2,861 in George Town. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

George Town pays 37% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $119 in New York, NY vs $116 in George Town. Groceries flip the comparison at $546 vs $727, with New York, NY cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇰🇾 George Town
🕒 Local time
05:56 5:56 AM
04:56 4:56 AM
1 h behind New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
28,089 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

KYD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Cayman Islands Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.82 KYD (1 KYD = 1.22 USD). 1 EUR = 0.919 KYD (1 KYD = 1.09 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New York, NY George Town 2,470 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • New York, NY
  • George Town

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 George Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in New York, NY and in George Town?
New York, NY and George Town differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($5,142 vs $4,862 including rent). George Town is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 37% lower in George Town. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in New York, NY and in George Town?
Rent for a central apartment: $4,506 in New York, NY versus $2,861 in George Town. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: New York, NY or George Town?
All in, you'll spend $5,142 per month in New York, NY versus $4,862 in George Town – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in New York, NY and in George Town?
A monthly transit pass in George Town runs roughly 75% less than in New York, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is feasible on a $5,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $5,000. George Town is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between New York, NY and George Town?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is New York, NY or George Town safer for residents?
Safety-wise, New York, NY and George Town are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: New York, NY or George Town?
Expats usually find George Town gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

New York, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?