Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Kalispell, MT Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Kalispell, MT

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,437 in New York, NY versus $2,913 in Kalispell, MT.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,995 in New York, NY versus $4,333 in Kalispell, MT.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,552 in New York, NY versus $5,752 in Kalispell, MT.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 52% more expensive than Kalispell, MT, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 229% above, Kalispell, MT 116% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.14 $30.14

$20.19 $20.19

49.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 $147

$79.4 $79.4

85.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.62 $12.62

$12.94 $12.94

-2.47%

Cappuccino

$6.00 $6.00

$5.45 $5.45

10.09%

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

$3.35 $3.35

$2.41 $2.41

39.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.03 $2.03

27.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.18 $8.18

$4.57 $4.57

78.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.99 $11.99

$6.27 $6.27

91.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.05 $1.05

53.33%

White Bread (500g)

$5.03 $5.03

$3.60 $3.60

39.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.40 $8.40

$5.98 $5.98

40.47%

Eggs

$7.10 $7.10

$6.47 $6.47

9.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.38 $17.38

$14.55 $14.55

19.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.18 $16.18

$15.25 $15.25

6.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.48 $20.48

$15.89 $15.89

28.89%

Apples (1kg)

$7.36 $7.36

$10.87 $10.87

-32.29%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.77 $2.77

-7.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$7.31 $7.31

-21.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.24 $6.24

$8.53 $8.53

-26.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$4.11 $4.11

-5.84%

Onion (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.84 $2.84

44.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.42 $2.42

25.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.85 $2.85

-10.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.07 $19.07

$9.91 $9.91

92.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.66 $19.66

$15.22 $15.22

29.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.59 $3.59

-16.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.97 $3.97

-5.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.01 $2.01

46.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.54 $3.54

43.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.60 $1.60

36.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.49 $41.49

$28.96 $28.96

43.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.08 $1.08

-9.26%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$29.7K $29.7K

16.15%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$32.1K $32.1K

-12.03%

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

$184 $184

$227 $227

-18.96%

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

$59.0 $59.0

$67.5 $67.5

-12.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$78.3 $78.3

-20.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$62.9 $62.9

123.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

$14.88 $14.88

338.64%

Cinema Ticket

$20.13 $20.13

$14.81 $14.81

35.92%

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

$3,191 $3,191

$1,165 $1,165

173.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.5K $57.5K

$23.9K $23.9K

140.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.2 $67.2

$49.74 $49.74

35.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.98 $47.98

$59.6 $59.6

-19.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$113 $113

-1.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$170 $170

$60.9 $60.9

178.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,207 $4,207

$1,475 $1,475

185.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,717 $2,717

$1,498 $1,498

81.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,382 $8,382

$2,325 $2,325

260.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,127 $5,127

$2,474 $2,474

107.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.5K $19.5K

$3,957 $3,957

394.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,862 $8,862

$3,852 $3,852

130.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,228 $5,228

$2,783 $2,783

87.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.85

-5.99%

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

Last update for New York, NY: April 11, 2026

Last update for Kalispell, MT: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,207 in New York, NY and $1,475 in Kalispell, MT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 88% 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: $147 in New York, NY vs $79 in Kalispell, MT for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $553 vs $525 per month, with Kalispell, MT 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 Kalispell, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kalispell, MT is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

New York, NY pays 88% 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: $4,207 in New York, NY versus $1,475 in Kalispell, MT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,191 in New York, NY versus $1,165 in Kalispell, MT. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kalispell, MT – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $147 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. Kalispell, MT is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Kalispell, MT 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 Kalispell, MT gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.