Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Kearney, NE Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Kearney, NE

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,443 in New York, NY versus $2,008 in Kearney, NE.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,945 in New York, NY versus $2,796 in Kearney, NE.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,447 in New York, NY versus $3,584 in Kearney, NE.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 121% more expensive than in Kearney, NE, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 234% above, Kearney, NE 51% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.45 $30.45

$14.88 $14.88

104.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$146 $146

$60.9 $60.9

139.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.71 $12.71

$11.28 $11.28

12.68%

Cappuccino

$5.87 $5.87

$5.29 $5.29

10.96%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$2.20 $2.20

46.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.01 $2.01

34.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$3.94 $3.94

107.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.89 $11.89

$5.04 $5.04

135.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$0.81 $0.81

92.59%

White Bread (500g)

$5.01 $5.01

$1.63 $1.63

207.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.33 $8.33

$3.78 $3.78

120.37%

Eggs

$7.02 $7.02

$3.45 $3.45

103.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$8.71 $8.71

99.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.72 $16.72

$6.65 $6.65

151.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.01 $20.01

$15.65 $15.65

27.86%

Apples (1kg)

$7.72 $7.72

$6.77 $6.77

14.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.19 $2.19

12.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$5.87 $5.87

-2.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$4.85 $4.85

32.37%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$1.82 $1.82

106.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.70 $2.70

44.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.99 $1.99

52.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.44 $2.44

5.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.84 $18.84

$9.58 $9.58

96.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$14.89 $14.89

32.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.81 $1.81

65.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$1.96 $1.96

97.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.05 $2.05

40.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.05 $3.05

67.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.39 $1.39

58.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.93 $41.93

$25.60 $25.60

63.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.86 $0.86

13.95%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$23.7K $23.7K

49.61%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$26.1K $26.1K

5.26%

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

$184 $184

$327 $327

-43.62%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$53.2 $53.2

12.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 $62.4

$66.4 $66.4

-5.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$55.4 $55.4

151.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.0 $65.0

$5.92 $5.92

997.47%

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$12.55 $12.55

61.99%

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

$3,153 $3,153

$932 $932

238.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.8K $56.8K

$24.7K $24.7K

130.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$29.98 $29.98

126.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.89 $47.89

$38.05 $38.05

25.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$96.8 $96.8

19.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$112 $112

55.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,125 $4,125

$914 $914

351.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,685 $2,685

$736 $736

264.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,262 $8,262

$2,619 $2,619

215.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,258 $5,258

$1,041 $1,041

405.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

$1,506 $1,506

1140.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$1,554 $1,554

315.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,584 $5,584

$7,584 $7,584

-26.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.5

-0.92%

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 Kearney, NE: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,125 in New York, NY and $914 in Kearney, NE. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kearney, NE pays 36% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $146 in New York, NY vs $61.0 in Kearney, NE for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $555 vs $345 per month, with Kearney, NE 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 Kearney, NE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY and Kearney, NE differ by about 121% in total monthly costs ($4,443 vs $2,008 including rent). Kearney, NE is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 36% lower in Kearney, NE. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,125 in New York, NY versus $914 in Kearney, NE. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 61% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $4,443 per month in New York, NY versus $2,008 in Kearney, NE – a 121% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,008 in Kearney, NE versus $4,443 in New York, NY, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Kearney, NE but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Kearney, NE 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.

Safety-wise, New York, NY and Kearney, NE are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kearney, NE gentler on the wallet – expenses run 121% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.