Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Jacksonville, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Jacksonville, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,443 in New York, NY versus $2,547 in Jacksonville, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,945 in New York, NY versus $3,324 in Jacksonville, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,447 in New York, NY versus $4,102 in Jacksonville, NC.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 74% more expensive than in Jacksonville, NC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 234% above, Jacksonville, NC 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.45 $30.45

$18.05 $18.05

68.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$146 $146

$54.6 $54.6

167.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.71 $12.71

$10.17 $10.17

24.98%

Cappuccino

$5.87 $5.87

$4.71 $4.71

24.63%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$2.55 $2.55

26.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.81 $1.81

49.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$5.14 $5.14

59.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.89 $11.89

$6.58 $6.58

80.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$0.93 $0.93

67.74%

White Bread (500g)

$5.01 $5.01

$2.23 $2.23

124.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.33 $8.33

$4.30 $4.30

93.72%

Eggs

$7.02 $7.02

$4.41 $4.41

59.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$11.89 $11.89

46.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.72 $16.72

$14.26 $14.26

17.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.01 $20.01

$27.99 $27.99

-28.51%

Apples (1kg)

$7.72 $7.72

$2.23 $2.23

246.19%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.50 $1.50

64.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$4.78 $4.78

19.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$3.55 $3.55

80.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$7.76 $7.76

-51.68%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.74 $3.74

4.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.47 $3.47

-12.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.92 $1.92

33.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.84 $18.84

$10.55 $10.55

78.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$14.02 $14.02

40.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.72 $1.72

74.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$6.79 $6.79

-42.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.94 $1.94

48.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$2.54 $2.54

101.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.27 $2.27

-3.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.93 $41.93

$29.69 $29.69

41.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.79 $0.79

24.05%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$28.3K $28.3K

25.06%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$27.4K $27.4K

0.43%

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

$184 $184

$172 $172

7.25%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$56.2 $56.2

6.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 $62.4

$79.5 $79.5

-21.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$37.66 $37.66

270.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.0 $65.0

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$14.01 $14.01

45.11%

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

$3,153 $3,153

$899 $899

250.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.8K $56.8K

$23.1K $23.1K

146.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$30.28 $30.28

124.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.89 $47.89

$39.60 $39.60

20.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$81.5 $81.5

41.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$75.5 $75.5

130.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,125 $4,125

$1,179 $1,179

249.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,685 $2,685

$1,327 $1,327

102.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,262 $8,262

$1,612 $1,612

412.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,258 $5,258

$1,506 $1,506

249.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

$1,964 $1,964

850.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$6,823 $6,823

-5.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,584 $5,584

$2,205 $2,205

153.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.33

1.74%

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

Last update for New York, NY: July 25, 2026

Last update for Jacksonville, NC: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,125 in New York, NY and $1,179 in Jacksonville, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 153% 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: $146 in New York, NY vs $55.0 in Jacksonville, NC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $555 vs $432 per month, with Jacksonville, NC 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 Jacksonville, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY and Jacksonville, NC differ by about 74% in total monthly costs ($4,443 vs $2,547 including rent). Jacksonville, NC is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 153% higher in New York, NY, 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: $4,125 in New York, NY versus $1,179 in Jacksonville, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,153 in New York, NY versus $899 in Jacksonville, NC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Jacksonville, NC – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $146 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,547 in Jacksonville, NC versus $4,443 in New York, NY, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Jacksonville, NC but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Jacksonville, NC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Jacksonville, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.