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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,841 per month in New York, NY vs $2,943 in Highland, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,287 per month in New York, NY vs $4,342 in Highland, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,734 per month in New York, NY vs $5,741 in Highland, CA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 65% more than Highland, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both New York, NY and Highland, CA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 254%, Highland, CA by 115%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.33 $25.33

$24.63 $24.63

2.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$98.1 $98.1

44.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$14.92 $14.92

-7.64%

Cappuccino

$6.19 $6.19

$6.11 $6.11

1.31%

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

$3.69 $3.69

$3.67 $3.67

0.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$3.05 $3.05

-2.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$7.88 $7.88

-1.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$11.90 $11.90

-14.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.50 $1.50

-7.33%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.61 $4.61

-0.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$6.85 $6.85

1.31%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$5.16 $5.16

12.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$19.47 $19.47

-11.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$14.48 $14.48

3.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.02 $18.02

$21.73 $21.73

-17.07%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$8.29 $8.29

-24.13%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$3.27 $3.27

-34.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$6.22 $6.22

-6.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$9.67 $9.67

-35.06%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.82 $2.82

20.21%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$4.94 $4.94

-13.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.58 $3.58

-22.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.72 $2.72

-5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$11.49 $11.49

62.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 $20.30

$15.98 $15.98

27.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.30 $2.30

36.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$4.46 $4.46

-9.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.99 $1.99

49.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

$29.69 $29.69

365.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.82 $2.82

9.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.50 $2.50

-14.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

$59.6 $59.6

-30.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.44 $1.44

-21.53%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$36.4K $36.4K

-2.72%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.4K $25.4K

0.68%

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

$236 $236

$257 $257

-8.22%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$75.2 $75.2

-1.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$70.1 $70.1

3.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$41.05 $41.05

204.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.1 $63.1

Cinema Ticket

$23.37 $23.37

$13.75 $13.75

69.96%

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

$3,353 $3,353

$1,407 $1,407

138.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.0K $61.0K

$37.1K $37.1K

64.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$85.5 $85.5

-15.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$46.55 $46.55

12.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$80.7 $80.7

44.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$130 $130

-4.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,438 $4,438

$1,685 $1,685

163.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,045 $3,045

$1,297 $1,297

134.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,088 $9,088

$2,208 $2,208

311.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,404 $5,404

$2,165 $2,165

149.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K $18.8K

$3,014 $3,014

524.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 $6,500

$2,728 $2,728

138.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,258 $5,258

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.24

4.01%

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 Highland, CA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,438 in New York, NY versus $1,685 in Highland, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $142 in New York, NY versus $98.0 in Highland, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $516 in New York, NY vs $557 in Highland, CA – so New York, NY wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Highland, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,841 in New York, NY, $2,943 in Highland, CA – roughly 65% apart. New York, NY costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,261 per month in New York, NY and $4,414 in Highland, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Highland, CA, 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 $142 in New York, NY and $98.0 in Highland, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,841 in New York, NY and $2,943 in Highland, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,841 in New York, NY and $2,943 in Highland, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. New York, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,943 in Highland, CA to $4,841 in New York, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Highland, CA. 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.