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: $4,458 in New York, NY versus $2,551 in Jacksonville, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,020 in New York, NY versus $3,314 in Jacksonville, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,582 in New York, NY versus $4,077 in Jacksonville, NC.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 75% more expensive than Jacksonville, NC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 232% above, Jacksonville, NC 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.87 $29.87

$17.69 $17.69

68.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$148 $148

$54.7 $54.7

170.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.37 $12.37

$10.14 $10.14

21.99%

Cappuccino

$6.07 $6.07

$4.79 $4.79

26.72%

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

$3.21 $3.21

$2.54 $2.54

26.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$1.87 $1.87

41.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 $7.88

$4.89 $4.89

61.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.19 $12.19

$6.40 $6.40

90.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 $1.55

$0.94 $0.94

64.89%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.15 $2.15

139.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.16 $8.16

$4.29 $4.29

90.21%

Eggs

$6.96 $6.96

$4.50 $4.50

54.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.53 $17.53

$11.96 $11.96

46.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$14.41 $14.41

12.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.40 $20.40

$27.76 $27.76

-26.51%

Apples (1kg)

$7.60 $7.60

$2.16 $2.16

251.85%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.45 $1.45

68.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$5.01 $5.01

12.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$3.57 $3.57

81.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$7.58 $7.58

-50.92%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.63 $3.63

9.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.40 $3.40

-7.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.90 $1.90

28.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.92 $18.92

$10.59 $10.59

78.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.27 $20.27

$13.78 $13.78

47.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.71 $1.71

68.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$6.94 $6.94

-44.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.02 $2.02

43.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$132 $132

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.10 $5.10

$2.45 $2.45

108.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.37 $2.37

-7.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.50 $42.50

$28.61 $28.61

48.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.78 $0.78

21.79%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$28.9K $28.9K

23.08%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$27.5K $27.5K

2.97%

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

$181 $181

$170 $170

6.17%

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

$59.8 $59.8

$56.1 $56.1

6.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$78.0 $78.0

-18.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$38.24 $38.24

268.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.9 $64.9

Cinema Ticket

$19.92 $19.92

$13.91 $13.91

43.21%

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

$3,208 $3,208

$911 $911

252.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.8K $57.8K

$23.1K $23.1K

149.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.3 $68.3

$29.91 $29.91

128.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.77 $48.77

$39.91 $39.91

22.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$80.7 $80.7

39.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$74.9 $74.9

130.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,213 $4,213

$1,204 $1,204

249.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,706 $2,706

$1,369 $1,369

97.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,515 $8,515

$1,588 $1,588

436.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,231 $5,231

$1,551 $1,551

237.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.9K $17.9K

$1,914 $1,914

835.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,389 $6,389

$6,840 $6,840

-6.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,445 $5,445

$2,231 $2,231

144.09%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Jacksonville, NC: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,213 in New York, NY and $1,204 in Jacksonville, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 144% 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: $148 in New York, NY vs $55.0 in Jacksonville, NC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $431 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 75% in total monthly costs ($4,458 vs $2,551 including rent). Jacksonville, NC is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

New York, NY pays 144% 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: $4,213 in New York, NY versus $1,204 in Jacksonville, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,208 in New York, NY versus $911 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 $148 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,551 in Jacksonville, NC versus $4,458 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 75% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.