Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Hoffman Estates, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Hoffman Estates, IL: $2,548 a month against $4,938 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $28,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,938
/mo nomad
Hoffman Estates, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,548
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New York, NY and in Hoffman Estates, IL

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 Hoffman Estates, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,938 in New York, NY versus $2,548 in Hoffman Estates, IL.

  • New York, NY $4,938
  • Hoffman Estates, IL $2,548

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,273 in New York, NY versus $3,650 in Hoffman Estates, IL.

  • New York, NY $7,273
  • Hoffman Estates, IL $3,650

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,608 in New York, NY versus $4,753 in Hoffman Estates, IL.

  • New York, NY $9,608
  • Hoffman Estates, IL $4,753

Living in New York, NY is roughly 94% more expensive than in Hoffman Estates, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 264% above, Hoffman Estates, IL 88% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Hoffman Estates, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.99 $24.99
$17.29 $17.29
44.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120 $120
$66.6 $66.6
80.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.74 $13.74
$10.17 $10.17
35.10%
Cappuccino
$6.60 $6.60
$4.86 $4.86
35.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 $3.82
$2.76 $2.76
38.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.01 $2.01
42.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.95 $7.95
$6.40 $6.40
24.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.06 $10.06
$6.17 $6.17
63.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Hoffman Estates, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.01 $1.01
35.64%
White Bread (500g)
$4.75 $4.75
$3.43 $3.43
38.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.69 $7.69
$4.29 $4.29
79.25%
Eggs
$5.87 $5.87
$4.27 $4.27
37.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.25 $19.25
$12.41 $12.41
55.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.83 $17.83
$11.38 $11.38
56.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.03 $19.03
$17.28 $17.28
10.13%
Apples (1kg)
$6.69 $6.69
$4.96 $4.96
34.88%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 $2.29
$1.59 $1.59
44.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.41 $6.41
$4.27 $4.27
50.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.75 $6.75
$4.60 $4.60
46.74%
Potato (1kg)
$3.93 $3.93
$2.72 $2.72
44.49%
Onion (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$3.01 $3.01
50.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.14 $2.14
30.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.20 $2.20
14.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.10 $18.10
$8.92 $8.92
102.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.16 $20.16
$14.93 $14.93
35.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.21 $2.21
47.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 $3.75
$2.87 $2.87
30.66%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Hoffman Estates, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.05 $2.05
42.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$143 $143
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.06 $3.06
$3.37 $3.37
-9.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.52 $1.52
42.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.33 $41.33
$30.23 $30.23
36.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.22 $1.22
-8.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K $33.1K
$26.4K $26.4K
25.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$27.1K $27.1K
-4.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Hoffman Estates, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$222 $222
-1.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$75.3 $75.3
$59.5 $59.5
26.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.5 $70.5
$68.7 $68.7
2.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Hoffman Estates, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$116 $116
$41.74 $41.74
176.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$67.6 $67.6
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$21.37 $21.37
$13.87 $13.87
54.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Hoffman Estates, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,432 $3,432
$1,385 $1,385
147.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$61.7K $61.7K
$25.3K $25.3K
143.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Hoffman Estates, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 $74.9
$58.7 $58.7
27.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.1 $52.1
$40.85 $40.85
27.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 $117
$90.1 $90.1
29.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 $135
$122 $122
9.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Hoffman Estates, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,347 $4,347
$1,618 $1,618
168.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,117 $3,117
$1,283 $1,283
142.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$9,110 $9,110
$2,803 $2,803
224.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,379 $5,379
$2,029 $2,029
165.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.3K $19.3K
$2,652 $2,652
627.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,943 $6,943
$2,396 $2,396
189.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Hoffman Estates, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,238 $5,238
$2,390 $2,390
119.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.85
6.57
4.26%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 17, 2026

Last update for Hoffman Estates, IL: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3.1K
Hoffman Estates, IL
$1.3K 58.8% $1.8K
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$552
Hoffman Estates, IL
$395 28.5% $157
Eating Out
New York, NY
$407
Hoffman Estates, IL
$291 28.6% $116
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$365
Hoffman Estates, IL
$350 4.1% $15
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$170
Hoffman Estates, IL
$140 17.5% $30
Getting Around
New York, NY
$168
Hoffman Estates, IL
$19 * 88.6% $149
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$158
Hoffman Estates, IL
$69 56.1% $89

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,347 in New York, NY and $1,618 in Hoffman Estates, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 119% 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: $120 in New York, NY vs $67.0 in Hoffman Estates, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $395 per month, with Hoffman Estates, IL cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇺🇸 Hoffman Estates, IL
🕒 Local time
23:18 11:18 PM
22:18 10:18 PM
1 h behind New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
51,895
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New York, NY Hoffman Estates, IL 1,170 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • New York, NY
  • Hoffman Estates, IL

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 Hoffman Estates, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in New York, NY and in Hoffman Estates, IL?
New York, NY and Hoffman Estates, IL differ by about 94% in total monthly costs ($4,938 vs $2,548 including rent). Hoffman Estates, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: New York, NY or Hoffman Estates, IL?
Average pay runs 119% 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.
How do apartment prices compare in New York, NY and in Hoffman Estates, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $4,347 in New York, NY versus $1,618 in Hoffman Estates, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between New York, NY and Hoffman Estates, IL?
Childcare runs $3,432 in New York, NY versus $1,385 in Hoffman Estates, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Hoffman Estates, IL – a meal for two runs $67.0 versus $120 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Hoffman Estates, IL 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 Hoffman Estates, IL?
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 Hoffman Estates, IL safer for residents?
Safety-wise, New York, NY and Hoffman Estates, IL 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 Hoffman Estates, IL?
Expats usually find Hoffman Estates, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 94% 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?