Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Katy, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Katy, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,557 per month in New York, NY vs $2,699 in Katy, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,115 per month in New York, NY vs $3,562 in Katy, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,674 per month in New York, NY vs $4,424 in Katy, TX, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 69% more than Katy, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Katy, TX sit above the global median – New York, NY by 240%, Katy, TX by 102%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.90 $29.90

$13.41 $13.41

122.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$60.4 $60.4

136.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.67 $12.67

$9.16 $9.16

38.32%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$4.37 $4.37

32.27%

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

$3.40 $3.40

$2.38 $2.38

42.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.92 $1.92

40.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.07 $8.07

$4.08 $4.08

97.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.86 $11.86

$6.16 $6.16

92.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.01 $1.01

59.41%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.03 $3.03

69.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.17 $8.17

$4.64 $4.64

76.08%

Eggs

$7.16 $7.16

$2.94 $2.94

143.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.24 $17.24

$10.85 $10.85

58.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.17 $16.17

$9.94 $9.94

62.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.46 $20.46

$14.77 $14.77

38.52%

Apples (1kg)

$7.33 $7.33

$3.79 $3.79

93.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.18 $1.18

105.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.06 $3.06

87.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$3.27 $3.27

99.39%

Potato (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$1.97 $1.97

93.40%

Onion (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$2.41 $2.41

64.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.75 $1.75

76.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.23 $1.23

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.03 $19.03

$8.81 $8.81

116.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.16 $20.16

$12.73 $12.73

58.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.78 $1.78

62.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$1.85 $1.85

102.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.86 $2.86

$3.29 $3.29

-13.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$130 $130

$89.2 $89.2

45.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.59 $3.59

38.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.90 $1.90

17.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.20 $42.20

$45.35 $45.35

-6.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$0.72 $0.72

33.33%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$29.5K $29.5K

17.62%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$24.1K $24.1K

16.52%

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

$183 $183

$200 $200

-8.26%

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

$59.5 $59.5

$59.3 $59.3

0.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 $63.4

$75.0 $75.0

-15.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$30.47 $30.47

361.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.9 $63.9

$25.20 $25.20

153.45%

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$13.24 $13.24

50.91%

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

$3,153 $3,153

$986 $986

219.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.3K $56.3K

$16.4K $16.4K

242.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.7 $67.7

$45.82 $45.82

47.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.48 $48.48

$41.65 $41.65

16.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$90.3 $90.3

27.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$170 $170

$113 $113

49.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,113 $4,113

$1,696 $1,696

142.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,651 $2,651

$1,550 $1,550

70.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,230 $8,230

$2,308 $2,308

256.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,113 $5,113

$1,839 $1,839

178.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

$2,053 $2,053

842.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,754 $8,754

$1,715 $1,715

410.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,049 $5,049

$6,125 $6,125

-17.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.29

2.38%

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

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

Last update for Katy, TX: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,113 in New York, NY versus $1,696 in Katy, TX. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% higher in Katy, TX, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $143 in New York, NY versus $60.0 in Katy, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $553 vs $322 – making Katy, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Katy, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 69% more than Katy, TX, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,835 per month in New York, NY and $4,048 in Katy, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Katy, TX, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 72% more in New York, NY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $143 in New York, NY and $60.0 in Katy, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,557 in New York, NY and $2,699 in Katy, TX. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Katy, TX costs $2,699 versus $4,557 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Katy, TX. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.