Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Independence, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Independence, KS

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,503 in New York, NY versus $2,572 in Independence, KS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,077 in New York, NY versus $3,731 in Independence, KS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,650 in New York, NY versus $4,889 in Independence, KS.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 75% more expensive than Independence, KS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 236% above, Independence, KS 92% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$18.85 $18.85

60.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$73.8 $73.8

92.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$11.12 $11.12

13.76%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$5.15 $5.15

12.82%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.53 $2.53

28.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.98 $1.98

30.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$5.82 $5.82

40.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$7.05 $7.05

67.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.04 $1.04

47.12%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$3.55 $3.55

48.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$4.39 $4.39

89.98%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$4.11 $4.11

76.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$12.31 $12.31

40.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$11.30 $11.30

43.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$15.22 $15.22

30.22%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$4.95 $4.95

52.93%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.58 $1.58

53.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$4.30 $4.30

35.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.77 $4.77

33.96%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.88 $2.88

34.38%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.76 $2.76

47.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.11 $2.11

47.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.18 $2.18

12.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$9.51 $9.51

102.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$15.09 $15.09

32.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.83 $1.83

63.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.30 $3.30

13.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.97 $1.97

44.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.54 $3.54

44.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.59 $1.59

32.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$29.52 $29.52

43.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.85 $0.85

14.12%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$30.1K $30.1K

15.41%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$25.7K $25.7K

8.26%

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

$181 $181

$189 $189

-3.99%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$53.6 $53.6

12.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$67.6 $67.6

-7.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$42.26 $42.26

238.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$13.33 $13.33

49.89%

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

$3,216 $3,216

$1,278 $1,278

151.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$23.8K $23.8K

139.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$51.7 $51.7

30.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$39.44 $39.44

20.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$85.7 $85.7

29.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$110 $110

53.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$1,587 $1,587

157.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$1,338 $1,338

101.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$2,598 $2,598

225.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$2,193 $2,193

133.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$2,490 $2,490

630.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

$2,652 $2,652

137.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

$5,350 $5,350

3.55%

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 Independence, KS: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,092 in New York, NY and $1,587 in Independence, KS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 4% 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 $74.0 in Independence, KS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $389 per month, with Independence, KS 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 Independence, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Independence, KS wins on cost – living expenses run 75% lower than in New York, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Independence, KS the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

New York, NY pays 4% 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 $1,587 in Independence, KS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,216 in New York, NY versus $1,278 in Independence, KS. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Independence, KS – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $142 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Independence, KS is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Independence, KS delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,572 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Independence, KS hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Independence, KS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.