Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Key West, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Key West, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,841 per month in New York, NY vs $4,789 in Key West, FL, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,287 per month in New York, NY vs $6,952 in Key West, FL, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,734 per month in New York, NY vs $9,115 in Key West, FL, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 1% more than Key West, FL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both New York, NY and Key West, FL sit above the global median – New York, NY by 254%, Key West, FL by 250%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.33 $25.33

$21.90 $21.90

15.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$101 $101

40.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$12.02 $12.02

14.64%

Cappuccino

$6.19 $6.19

$4.49 $4.49

37.86%

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

$3.69 $3.69

$2.34 $2.34

57.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.99 $1.99

48.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$6.17 $6.17

25.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$6.92 $6.92

46.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.04 $1.04

33.65%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$3.66 $3.66

25.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$6.65 $6.65

4.36%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$5.15 $5.15

12.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$11.57 $11.57

49.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$13.50 $13.50

11.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.02 $18.02

$23.67 $23.67

-23.87%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$4.78 $4.78

31.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.84 $1.84

15.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$3.69 $3.69

57.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$5.15 $5.15

21.94%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$6.02 $6.02

-43.69%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$3.36 $3.36

27.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.53 $3.53

-21.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.68 $2.68

-4.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$7.95 $7.95

135.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 $20.30

$14.06 $14.06

44.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.00 $2.00

57.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$2.26 $2.26

78.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.93 $3.93

-24.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.93 $3.93

-21.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$3.15 $3.15

-32.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

$30.46 $30.46

36.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.89 $0.89

26.97%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$37.5K $37.5K

-5.58%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.5K $25.5K

0.32%

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

$236 $236

$212 $212

11.25%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$54.0 $54.0

36.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$72.7 $72.7

-0.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$80.8 $80.8

54.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.1 $63.1

Cinema Ticket

$23.37 $23.37

$13.88 $13.88

68.37%

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

$3,353 $3,353

$1,068 $1,068

214.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.0K $61.0K

$20.7K $20.7K

195.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$47.07 $47.07

53.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$41.95 $41.95

24.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$71.1 $71.1

63.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$67.5 $67.5

83.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,438 $4,438

$3,455 $3,455

28.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,045 $3,045

$3,364 $3,364

-9.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,088 $9,088

$7,008 $7,008

29.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,404 $5,404

$6,025 $6,025

-10.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K $18.8K

$9,652 $9,652

94.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 $6,500

$9,662 $9,662

-32.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,258 $5,258

$5,935 $5,935

-11.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.07

6.92%

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 Key West, FL: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,438 in New York, NY versus $3,455 in Key West, FL. 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 13% higher in Key West, FL, 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 $142 in New York, NY versus $101 in Key West, FL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $516 vs $457 – making Key West, FL 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 Key West, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,261 per month in New York, NY and $7,184 in Key West, FL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $142 in New York, NY and $101 in Key West, FL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% 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.

$4,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,841 in New York, NY and $4,789 in Key West, FL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Key West, FL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Key West, FL. 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.