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: $4,438 in New York, NY versus $2,010 in Kearney, NE.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,016 in New York, NY versus $2,828 in Kearney, NE.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,593 in New York, NY versus $3,647 in Kearney, NE.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 231% above, Kearney, NE 50% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.91 $29.91

$14.97 $14.97

99.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 $144

$60.5 $60.5

137.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$11.47 $11.47

7.41%

Cappuccino

$6.03 $6.03

$5.25 $5.25

14.86%

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

$3.39 $3.39

$2.22 $2.22

52.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.99 $1.99

28.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.20 $8.20

$3.93 $3.93

108.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.95 $11.95

$5.10 $5.10

134.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.86 $0.86

79.07%

White Bread (500g)

$5.15 $5.15

$1.61 $1.61

219.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.43 $8.43

$3.81 $3.81

121.26%

Eggs

$6.97 $6.97

$3.33 $3.33

109.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.28 $17.28

$8.98 $8.98

92.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$6.49 $6.49

150.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.95 $19.95

$15.47 $15.47

28.96%

Apples (1kg)

$7.45 $7.45

$6.42 $6.42

16.04%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.19 $2.19

10.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$5.90 $5.90

-0.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$4.88 $4.88

29.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$1.80 $1.80

106.67%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$2.81 $2.81

41.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.08 $2.08

53.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.46 $2.46

3.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.09 $19.09

$9.63 $9.63

98.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.24 $20.24

$14.76 $14.76

37.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.74 $1.74

71.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.05 $2.05

88.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.05 $2.05

43.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 $5.13

$2.96 $2.96

73.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.39 $1.39

58.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.64 $42.64

$25.19 $25.19

69.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.85 $0.85

11.76%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$23.8K $23.8K

45.25%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$26.6K $26.6K

6.10%

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

$182 $182

$334 $334

-45.61%

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

$60.1 $60.1

$51.8 $51.8

15.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$67.2 $67.2

-7.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$54.5 $54.5

156.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.4 $64.4

$6.06 $6.06

962.87%

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$12.37 $12.37

64.35%

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

$3,222 $3,222

$926 $926

247.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.2K $56.2K

$24.6K $24.6K

128.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.9 $65.9

$29.94 $29.94

120.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$38.50 $38.50

22.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$94.8 $94.8

17.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$173 $173

$113 $113

53.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,208 $4,208

$923 $923

355.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,647 $2,647

$737 $737

259.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,415 $8,415

$2,638 $2,638

218.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,170 $5,170

$1,044 $1,044

395.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.1K $20.1K

$1,510 $1,510

1231.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,742 $8,742

$1,502 $1,502

482.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,144 $5,144

$7,583 $7,583

-32.17%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Kearney, NE: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,208 in New York, NY and $923 in Kearney, NE. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kearney, NE pays 47% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $144 in New York, NY vs $60 in Kearney, NE for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $344 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 ($4,438 vs $2,010 including rent). Kearney, NE is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Kearney, NE earns 47% less. 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: $4,208 in New York, NY versus $923 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 $4,438 per month in New York, NY versus $2,010 in Kearney, NE – a 121% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,010 in Kearney, NE versus $4,438 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.