Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Glendale, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Glendale, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,841 in New York, NY versus $4,222 in Glendale, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,287 in New York, NY versus $5,634 in Glendale, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,734 in New York, NY versus $7,046 in Glendale, CA.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 15% more expensive than in Glendale, CA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 254% above, Glendale, CA 209% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.33 $25.33

$25.46 $25.46

-0.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$97.6 $97.6

45.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$13.45 $13.45

2.45%

Cappuccino

$6.19 $6.19

$5.82 $5.82

6.36%

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

$3.69 $3.69

$3.02 $3.02

22.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.71 $2.71

9.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$8.06 $8.06

-3.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$10.04 $10.04

1.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.31 $1.31

6.11%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.90 $4.90

-6.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$4.87 $4.87

42.51%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$5.76 $5.76

0.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$11.97 $11.97

44.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$13.26 $13.26

13.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.02 $18.02

$19.46 $19.46

-7.40%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$4.77 $4.77

31.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.90 $1.90

12.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$4.55 $4.55

27.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$5.20 $5.20

20.77%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.25 $3.25

4.31%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$2.62 $2.62

62.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.00 $2.00

38.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.14 $2.14

19.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$11.78 $11.78

58.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 $20.30

$15.25 $15.25

33.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.12 $2.12

48.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$2.71 $2.71

48.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.77 $1.77

67.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

$89.6 $89.6

54.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.07 $3.07

0.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.89 $1.89

13.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

$28.08 $28.08

48.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.54 $1.54

-26.62%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$37.6K $37.6K

-5.83%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.3K $26.3K

-2.66%

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

$236 $236

$255 $255

-7.21%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$74.0 $74.0

-0.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$81.2 $81.2

-10.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.1 $63.1

Cinema Ticket

$23.37 $23.37

$19.15 $19.15

22.04%

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

$3,353 $3,353

$1,713 $1,713

95.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.0K $61.0K

$31.7K $31.7K

92.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$68.6 $68.6

5.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$57.9 $57.9

-9.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$117 $117

-0.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$195 $195

-36.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,438 $4,438

$3,300 $3,300

34.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,045 $3,045

$2,594 $2,594

17.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,088 $9,088

$4,887 $4,887

85.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,404 $5,404

$3,388 $3,388

59.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K $18.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 $6,500

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,258 $5,258

$5,036 $5,036

4.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.5

-0.15%

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

Last update for New York, NY: September 12, 2026

Last update for Glendale, CA: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,438 in New York, NY and $3,300 in Glendale, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 4% 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: $142 in New York, NY vs $98.0 in Glendale, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $516 vs $440 per month, with Glendale, CA 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 Glendale, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Glendale, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 4% 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: $4,438 in New York, NY versus $3,300 in Glendale, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Glendale, CA runs roughly 54% less than in New York, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $3,353 in New York, NY versus $1,713 in Glendale, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $4,000. Glendale, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Glendale, CA 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.

Safety-wise, New York, NY and Glendale, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Glendale, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.