Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Gloucester, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Gloucester, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,443 per month in New York, NY vs $2,599 in Gloucester, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,945 per month in New York, NY vs $3,863 in Gloucester, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,447 per month in New York, NY vs $5,127 in Gloucester, MA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 71% more than Gloucester, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Gloucester, MA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 234%, Gloucester, MA by 95%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.45 $30.45

$18.91 $18.91

61.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$146 $146

$75.2 $75.2

94.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.71 $12.71

$10.97 $10.97

15.86%

Cappuccino

$5.87 $5.87

$5.03 $5.03

16.70%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$2.51 $2.51

28.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.97 $1.97

37.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$6.01 $6.01

36.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.89 $11.89

$6.87 $6.87

73.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.00 $1.00

56.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.01 $5.01

$3.44 $3.44

45.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.33 $8.33

$4.32 $4.32

92.82%

Eggs

$7.02 $7.02

$4.10 $4.10

71.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$12.36 $12.36

40.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.72 $16.72

$11.59 $11.59

44.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.01 $20.01

$15.63 $15.63

28.02%

Apples (1kg)

$7.72 $7.72

$4.89 $4.89

57.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.55 $1.55

59.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$4.38 $4.38

30.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$4.64 $4.64

38.36%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.89 $2.89

29.76%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.81 $2.81

39.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.11 $2.11

44.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.09 $2.09

22.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.84 $18.84

$9.85 $9.85

91.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$14.82 $14.82

32.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.85 $1.85

62.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.37 $3.37

15.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.96 $1.96

46.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$29.45 $29.45

350.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.60 $3.60

41.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.63 $1.63

34.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.93 $41.93

$28.97 $28.97

44.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.83 $0.83

18.07%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$29.5K $29.5K

19.81%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$25.4K $25.4K

8.19%

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

$184 $184

0.18%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$52.9 $52.9

13.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 $62.4

$68.0 $68.0

-8.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$42.32 $42.32

229.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.0 $65.0

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$13.41 $13.41

51.60%

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

$3,153 $3,153

$1,323 $1,323

138.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.8K $56.8K

$23.2K $23.2K

144.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$50.9 $50.9

33.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.89 $47.89

$40.21 $40.21

19.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$150 $150

-23.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$113 $113

54.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,125 $4,125

$1,596 $1,596

158.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,685 $2,685

$1,327 $1,327

102.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,262 $8,262

$3,040 $3,040

171.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,258 $5,258

$2,193 $2,193

139.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

$2,396 $2,396

679.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$2,353 $2,353

174.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,584 $5,584

$2,353 $2,353

137.37%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Gloucester, MA: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,125 in New York, NY versus $1,596 in Gloucester, MA. 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 137% 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 $146 in New York, NY versus $75.0 in Gloucester, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $555 vs $388 – making Gloucester, MA 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 Gloucester, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 71%, 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 $6,664 per month in New York, NY and $3,898 in Gloucester, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $3,153 per month in New York, NY and $1,323 in Gloucester, MA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 43% 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 $4,443 in New York, NY and $2,599 in Gloucester, MA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Gloucester, MA. 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.