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: $4,437 in New York, NY versus $2,494 in Houghton, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,995 in New York, NY versus $3,605 in Houghton, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,552 in New York, NY versus $4,716 in Houghton, MI.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 78% more expensive than Houghton, MI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 229% above, Houghton, MI 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.14 $30.14

$12.77 $12.77

136.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 $147

$39.89 $39.89

269.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.62 $12.62

$10.17 $10.17

24.09%

Cappuccino

$6.00 $6.00

$4.08 $4.08

47.06%

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

$3.35 $3.35

$2.73 $2.73

22.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.56 $1.56

65.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.18 $8.18

$5.96 $5.96

37.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.99 $11.99

$6.88 $6.88

74.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.09 $1.09

47.71%

White Bread (500g)

$5.03 $5.03

$3.60 $3.60

39.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.40 $8.40

$4.48 $4.48

87.50%

Eggs

$7.10 $7.10

$4.07 $4.07

74.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.38 $17.38

$12.41 $12.41

40.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.18 $16.18

$11.49 $11.49

40.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.48 $20.48

$15.28 $15.28

34.03%

Apples (1kg)

$7.36 $7.36

$5.04 $5.04

46.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.56 $1.56

64.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$4.36 $4.36

30.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.24 $6.24

$4.82 $4.82

29.46%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.76 $2.76

40.22%

Onion (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.80 $2.80

46.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.03 $2.03

49.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.18 $2.18

16.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.07 $19.07

$9.32 $9.32

104.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.66 $19.66

$15.07 $15.07

30.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.78 $1.78

67.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.42 $3.42

9.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.96 $1.96

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.49 $3.49

45.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.59 $1.59

37.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.49 $41.49

$28.62 $28.62

44.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.84 $0.84

16.67%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$30.1K $30.1K

14.61%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$26.1K $26.1K

8.43%

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

$184 $184

$186 $186

-0.82%

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

$59.0 $59.0

$53.5 $53.5

10.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$66.7 $66.7

-7.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$42.63 $42.63

229.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

Cinema Ticket

$20.13 $20.13

$13.27 $13.27

51.70%

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

$3,191 $3,191

$1,322 $1,322

141.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.5K $57.5K

$23.2K $23.2K

147.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.2 $67.2

$51.8 $51.8

29.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.98 $47.98

$40.51 $40.51

18.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$87.0 $87.0

27.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$170 $170

$110 $110

54.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,207 $4,207

$1,612 $1,612

160.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,717 $2,717

$1,340 $1,340

102.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,382 $8,382

$2,600 $2,600

222.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,127 $5,127

$2,266 $2,266

126.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.5K $19.5K

$1,552 $1,552

1159.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,862 $8,862

$1,586 $1,586

458.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,228 $5,228

$2,606 $2,606

100.66%

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: April 11, 2026

Last update for Houghton, MI: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,207 in New York, NY and $1,612 in Houghton, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 101% 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: $147 in New York, NY vs $40 in Houghton, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $553 vs $392 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 78% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

New York, NY pays 101% 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: $4,207 in New York, NY versus $1,612 in Houghton, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $4,437 per month in New York, NY versus $2,494 in Houghton, MI – a 78% 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 78% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.