Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Houghton, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Houghton, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,503 in New York, NY versus $2,548 in Houghton, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,077 in New York, NY versus $3,554 in Houghton, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,650 in New York, NY versus $4,560 in Houghton, MI.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 77% more expensive than Houghton, MI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 236% above, Houghton, MI 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$12.82 $12.82

136.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$40.42 $40.42

252.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$9.88 $9.88

28.04%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$4.20 $4.20

38.33%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.81 $2.81

16.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.62 $1.62

59.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$6.04 $6.04

35.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$7.17 $7.17

64.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.09 $1.09

40.37%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$3.54 $3.54

48.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$4.30 $4.30

93.95%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$4.01 $4.01

80.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$12.42 $12.42

39.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$11.39 $11.39

42.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$15.24 $15.24

30.05%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$4.99 $4.99

51.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.63 $1.63

48.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$4.17 $4.17

39.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.75 $4.75

34.53%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.78 $2.78

39.21%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.91 $2.91

39.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.01 $2.01

55.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.10 $2.10

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$9.61 $9.61

100.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$14.96 $14.96

33.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.79 $1.79

67.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.29 $3.29

13.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.98 $1.98

43.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.46 $3.46

47.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.63 $1.63

29.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$28.71 $28.71

47.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.86 $0.86

12.79%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$29.7K $29.7K

16.90%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$25.8K $25.8K

7.59%

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

$181 $181

$184 $184

-1.62%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$52.7 $52.7

14.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$68.2 $68.2

-8.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$43.57 $43.57

228.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$13.24 $13.24

50.91%

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

$3,216 $3,216

$1,321 $1,321

143.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$23.1K $23.1K

147.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$51.4 $51.4

31.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$39.70 $39.70

20.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$85.1 $85.1

30.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$114 $114

48.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$1,574 $1,574

159.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$1,340 $1,340

100.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$2,632 $2,632

220.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$2,201 $2,201

132.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$1,556 $1,556

1068.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

$1,587 $1,587

296.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

$2,568 $2,568

115.74%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Houghton, MI: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,092 in New York, NY and $1,574 in Houghton, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 116% 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 $40.00 in Houghton, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $388 per month, with Houghton, MI 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 Houghton, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Houghton, MI is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 77% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

New York, NY pays 116% more on average, 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: $4,092 in New York, NY versus $1,574 in Houghton, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $4,503 per month in New York, NY versus $2,548 in Houghton, MI – a 77% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Houghton, MI is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Houghton, MI 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 Houghton, MI 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 Houghton, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 77% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.