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 $4,503 per month in New York, NY vs $4,812 in Key West, FL, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,077 per month in New York, NY vs $6,960 in Key West, FL, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,650 per month in New York, NY vs $9,109 in Key West, FL, rent included.

New York, NY is about 6% cheaper 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 236%, Key West, FL by 259%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$22.88 $22.88

32.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$86.3 $86.3

64.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$12.14 $12.14

4.20%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$4.42 $4.42

31.45%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.51 $2.51

29.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.08 $2.08

24.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$5.92 $5.92

38.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$7.43 $7.43

59.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.10 $1.10

39.09%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$3.71 $3.71

42.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$3.86 $3.86

116.06%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$4.77 $4.77

51.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$11.36 $11.36

52.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$13.58 $13.58

19.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$27.84 $27.84

-28.81%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$5.00 $5.00

51.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.79 $1.79

35.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$4.54 $4.54

28.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$6.32 $6.32

1.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$6.07 $6.07

-36.24%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$8.60 $8.60

-52.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$3.54 $3.54

-11.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$3.16 $3.16

-22.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$7.80 $7.80

146.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$14.16 $14.16

40.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.99 $1.99

50.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.27 $2.27

64.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.91 $3.91

-27.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.10 $4.10

24.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.52 $1.52

38.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$29.71 $29.71

42.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.82 $0.82

18.29%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$25.1K $25.1K

38.07%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$23.9K $23.9K

16.28%

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

$181 $181

$244 $244

-25.78%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$48.41 $48.41

24.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$68.7 $68.7

-8.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$79.4 $79.4

80.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$13.89 $13.89

43.84%

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

$3,216 $3,216

$1,252 $1,252

156.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$23.2K $23.2K

146.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$31.88 $31.88

111.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$41.43 $41.43

15.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$65.4 $65.4

70.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$61.2 $61.2

175.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$3,435 $3,435

19.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$3,425 $3,425

-21.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$7,149 $7,149

18.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$5,999 $5,999

-14.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$9,876 $9,876

84.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

$9,710 $9,710

-35.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

$5,852 $5,852

-5.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.39

0.78%

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

Last update for New York, NY: June 1, 2026

Last update for Key West, FL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,092 in New York, NY versus $3,435 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 6% higher in Key West, FL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $142 in New York, NY versus $86.0 in Key West, FL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $484 – 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

Key West, FL costs about 7% more than New York, NY, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,754 per month in New York, NY and $7,217 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 New York, NY, 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 $86.0 in Key West, FL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Key West, FL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,503 in New York, NY and $4,812 in Key West, FL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward New York, NY – 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 New York, NY. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Key West, FL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.