Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Irvine, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Irvine, CA

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 32.9% more expensive than Irvine, CA without rent, and 18.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 35.2% more expensive than Irvine, CA without rent, and 35.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Irvine, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$24.63 $24.63
20.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$98.2 $98.2
46.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$10.18 $10.18
22.10%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.56 $5.56
5.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.65 $2.65
23.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.03 $2.03
27.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$8.06 $8.06
2.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$8.84 $8.84
34.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Irvine, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.21 $1.21
28.93%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$5.73 $5.73
-8.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$4.82 $4.82
68.26%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$4.63 $4.63
56.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$12.53 $12.53
36.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$11.37 $11.37
42.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$14.3 $14.3
40.00%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$6.24 $6.24
20.03%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.83 $1.83
39.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$3.85 $3.85
51.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$5.59 $5.59
16.64%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.25 $3.25
14.46%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$2.97 $2.97
31.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.08 $2.08
47.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.12 $2.12
21.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$9.49 $9.49
102.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$14.96 $14.96
18.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.78 $1.78
69.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$4.75 $4.75
-21.68%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Irvine, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.94 $1.94
50.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
$70.3 $70.3
90.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$3.97 $3.97
29.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.76 $2.76
-22.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$32.09 $32.09
29.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.3 $1.3
-26.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35K $35K
$28.4K $28.4K
23.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$26.8K $26.8K
3.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Irvine, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$205 $205
-12.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$54 $54
10.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$72.7 $72.7
-12.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Irvine, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$55 $55
156.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
$13.38 $13.38
377.58%
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$13.78 $13.78
44.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Irvine, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$1,868 $1,868
71.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$40.1K $40.1K
40.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Irvine, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$69.6 $69.6
-5.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$40.54 $40.54
20.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$76.8 $76.8
44.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$155 $155
10.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Irvine, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$2,716 $2,716
53.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$2,333 $2,333
13.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$4,616 $4,616
82.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$3,818 $3,818
38.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$8,450 $8,450
84.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$8,108 $8,108
37.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Irvine, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$5,963 $5,963
-5.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.69
-3.74%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

Last update for Irvine, CA: October 27, 2025

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