Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and High Point, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and High Point, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,415 in New York, NY versus $2,571 in High Point, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,980 in New York, NY versus $3,783 in High Point, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,544 in New York, NY versus $4,994 in High Point, NC.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 72% more expensive than in High Point, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 230% above, High Point, NC 92% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.48 $29.48

$19.82 $19.82

48.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$75.3 $75.3

89.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.41 $12.41

$9.98 $9.98

24.35%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$4.94 $4.94

23.08%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$2.10 $2.10

58.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.71 $1.71

57.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.17 $8.17

$4.94 $4.94

65.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.04 $12.04

$6.03 $6.03

99.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

$0.87 $0.87

86.21%

White Bread (500g)

$5.08 $5.08

$4.11 $4.11

23.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.12 $8.12

$3.10 $3.10

161.94%

Eggs

$6.87 $6.87

$3.66 $3.66

87.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$13.93 $13.93

26.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$8.42 $8.42

94.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.81 $19.81

$16.79 $16.79

17.99%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 $7.66

$4.48 $4.48

70.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.46 $1.46

73.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$4.93 $4.93

13.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$3.98 $3.98

60.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.36 $2.36

62.71%

Onion (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.58 $3.58

14.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.87 $1.87

64.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.21 $2.21

12.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.83 $18.83

$7.46 $7.46

152.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$14.92 $14.92

31.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.69 $1.69

76.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.00 $3.00

25.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.95 $1.95

50.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$79.5 $79.5

67.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 $5.05

$2.02 $2.02

150.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.68 $1.68

30.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.75 $42.75

$14.82 $14.82

188.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.81 $0.81

19.75%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$29.5K $29.5K

18.55%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$25.7K $25.7K

9.99%

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

$182 $182

$148 $148

22.78%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$63.6 $63.6

-5.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 $63.5

$74.9 $74.9

-15.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$43.22 $43.22

230.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 $63.6

Cinema Ticket

$19.89 $19.89

$15.11 $15.11

31.63%

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

$3,129 $3,129

$888 $888

252.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$58.2K $58.2K

$23.9K $23.9K

143.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$52.5 $52.5

28.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$39.19 $39.19

20.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$75.9 $75.9

48.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$116 $116

49.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,145 $4,145

$1,587 $1,587

161.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,333 $1,333

102.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,255 $8,255

$2,621 $2,621

214.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,298 $5,298

$2,207 $2,207

140.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.5K $18.5K

$1,962 $1,962

844.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,505 $6,505

$1,894 $1,894

243.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,520 $5,520

$4,459 $4,459

23.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.53

-1.38%

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

Last update for New York, NY: July 13, 2026

Last update for High Point, NC: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,145 in New York, NY and $1,587 in High Point, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 24% 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: $143 in New York, NY vs $75.0 in High Point, NC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $553 vs $374 per month, with High Point, NC 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 High Point, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY and High Point, NC differ by about 72% in total monthly costs ($4,415 vs $2,571 including rent). High Point, NC is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 24% 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: $4,145 in New York, NY versus $1,587 in High Point, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in High Point, NC – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $143 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $4,415 per month in New York, NY versus $2,571 in High Point, NC – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. High Point, NC is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Expats usually find High Point, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.