Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Houston, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Houston, MO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,415 in New York, NY versus $2,577 in Houston, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,980 in New York, NY versus $3,720 in Houston, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,544 in New York, NY versus $4,863 in Houston, MO.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 71% more expensive than in Houston, MO, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 230% above, Houston, MO 93% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.48 $29.48

$12.13 $12.13

143.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$86.3 $86.3

65.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.41 $12.41

$11.12 $11.12

11.60%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$5.62 $5.62

8.19%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$2.63 $2.63

26.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.12 $2.12

27.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.17 $8.17

$6.03 $6.03

35.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.04 $12.04

$6.59 $6.59

82.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.12 $1.12

44.64%

White Bread (500g)

$5.08 $5.08

$3.27 $3.27

55.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.12 $8.12

$6.42 $6.42

26.48%

Eggs

$6.87 $6.87

$4.87 $4.87

41.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$18.46 $18.46

-4.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$16.51 $16.51

-0.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.81 $19.81

$16.60 $16.60

19.34%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 $7.66

$4.56 $4.56

67.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.35 $1.35

87.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$3.47 $3.47

61.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$2.73 $2.73

134.43%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.40 $2.40

60.00%

Onion (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.55 $2.55

60.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.82 $1.82

69.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.69 $2.69

-7.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.83 $18.83

$10.11 $10.11

86.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$14.78 $14.78

33.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.84 $1.84

62.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.14 $3.14

19.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.98 $1.98

48.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.40 $3.40

48.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.59 $1.59

38.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.75 $42.75

$29.43 $29.43

45.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.76 $0.76

27.63%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$31.5K $31.5K

11.13%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$33.8K $33.8K

-16.27%

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

$182 $182

$195 $195

-6.64%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$49.02 $49.02

22.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 $63.5

$50.8 $50.8

25.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$43.42 $43.42

228.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 $63.6

Cinema Ticket

$19.89 $19.89

$15.22 $15.22

30.68%

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

$3,129 $3,129

$1,303 $1,303

140.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$58.2K $58.2K

$23.2K $23.2K

150.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$46.82 $46.82

44.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$38.94 $38.94

21.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$68.5 $68.5

64.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$70.5 $70.5

146.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,145 $4,145

$1,583 $1,583

161.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,363 $1,363

97.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,255 $8,255

$2,591 $2,591

218.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,298 $5,298

$2,219 $2,219

138.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.5K $18.5K

$2,355 $2,355

687.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,505 $6,505

$2,097 $2,097

210.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,520 $5,520

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.56

-1.83%

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 Houston, MO: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,145 in New York, NY and $1,583 in Houston, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $143 in New York, NY vs $86.0 in Houston, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $553 vs $432 per month, with Houston, MO 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 Houston, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Houston, MO is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 71% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $6,623 in New York, NY and $3,865 in Houston, MO to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,145 in New York, NY versus $1,583 in Houston, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,129 in New York, NY versus $1,303 in Houston, MO. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Houston, MO – a meal for two runs $86.0 versus $143 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

For families, Houston, MO 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.

Expats usually find Houston, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.