Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Ketchikan, AK Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Ketchikan, AK

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,841 in New York, NY versus $2,862 in Ketchikan, AK.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,287 in New York, NY versus $4,019 in Ketchikan, AK.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,734 in New York, NY versus $5,175 in Ketchikan, AK.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 69% more expensive than in Ketchikan, AK, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 254% above, Ketchikan, AK 109% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.33 $25.33

$19.92 $19.92

27.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$74.8 $74.8

90.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$11.55 $11.55

19.31%

Cappuccino

$6.19 $6.19

$5.39 $5.39

14.84%

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

$3.69 $3.69

$2.70 $2.70

36.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.03 $2.03

45.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.95 $5.95

30.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$7.07 $7.07

43.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.00 $1.00

39.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$3.57 $3.57

28.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$4.43 $4.43

56.66%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$3.29 $3.29

75.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$12.25 $12.25

41.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$11.34 $11.34

32.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.02 $18.02

$16.89 $16.89

6.69%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$4.81 $4.81

30.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.82 $1.82

17.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$5.05 $5.05

14.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$5.06 $5.06

24.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.14 $3.14

7.96%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$2.60 $2.60

64.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.10 $2.10

31.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.52 $2.52

1.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$9.96 $9.96

87.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 $20.30

$14.31 $14.31

41.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.80 $1.80

75.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$3.43 $3.43

17.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.94 $1.94

53.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

$24.72 $24.72

459.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.72 $2.72

13.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.94 $1.94

10.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

$30.38 $30.38

36.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.19 $1.19

-5.04%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$35.8K $35.8K

-1.04%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.9K $25.9K

-1.22%

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

$236 $236

$201 $201

17.44%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$57.4 $57.4

28.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$69.5 $69.5

4.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$41.36 $41.36

202.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.1 $63.1

Cinema Ticket

$23.37 $23.37

$14.24 $14.24

64.12%

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

$3,353 $3,353

$1,243 $1,243

169.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.0K $61.0K

$26.0K $26.0K

134.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$58.7 $58.7

23.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$36.84 $36.84

41.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$90.4 $90.4

28.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$104 $104

19.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,438 $4,438

$1,616 $1,616

174.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,045 $3,045

$1,593 $1,593

91.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,088 $9,088

$2,375 $2,375

282.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,404 $5,404

$2,306 $2,306

134.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K $18.8K

$2,750 $2,750

584.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 $6,500

$2,790 $2,790

133.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,258 $5,258

$4,539 $4,539

15.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.12

6.05%

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

Last update for New York, NY: September 12, 2026

Last update for Ketchikan, AK: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,438 in New York, NY and $1,616 in Ketchikan, AK. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 16% 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: $142 in New York, NY vs $75.0 in Ketchikan, AK for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $516 vs $399 per month, with Ketchikan, AK 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 Ketchikan, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY and Ketchikan, AK differ by about 69% in total monthly costs ($4,841 vs $2,862 including rent). Ketchikan, AK is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 16% higher in New York, NY, 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: $4,438 in New York, NY versus $1,616 in Ketchikan, AK. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,353 in New York, NY versus $1,243 in Ketchikan, AK. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Ketchikan, AK is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Ketchikan, AK 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 Ketchikan, AK gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.