Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Kingston, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Kingston, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,841 in New York, NY versus $3,053 in Kingston, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,287 in New York, NY versus $4,490 in Kingston, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,734 in New York, NY versus $5,928 in Kingston, NY.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 59% more expensive than in Kingston, NY, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 254% above, Kingston, NY 123% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.33 $25.33

$25.25 $25.25

0.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$79.3 $79.3

79.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$14.89 $14.89

-7.45%

Cappuccino

$6.19 $6.19

$6.47 $6.47

-4.33%

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

$3.69 $3.69

$2.67 $2.67

38.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.40 $2.40

23.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$7.96 $7.96

-2.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$8.79 $8.79

15.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.94 $0.94

47.87%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.62 $4.62

-0.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$6.56 $6.56

5.79%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$4.49 $4.49

28.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$15.96 $15.96

8.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$10.65 $10.65

41.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.02 $18.02

$17.31 $17.31

4.10%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$4.75 $4.75

32.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.31 $1.31

62.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$4.84 $4.84

19.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$6.70 $6.70

-6.27%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.64 $3.64

-6.87%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$3.36 $3.36

27.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.58 $2.58

7.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.91 $1.91

34.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$16.69 $16.69

12.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 $20.30

$14.73 $14.73

37.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.87 $1.87

68.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$3.63 $3.63

11.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.09 $2.09

42.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

$64.3 $64.3

115.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.92 $2.92

5.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.61 $1.61

32.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

$33.31 $33.31

24.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.84 $0.84

34.52%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$31.2K $31.2K

13.39%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

-0.15%

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

$236 $236

$196 $196

20.68%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$66.0 $66.0

11.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$79.7 $79.7

-9.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$43.24 $43.24

189.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.1 $63.1

$60.6 $60.6

4.13%

Cinema Ticket

$23.37 $23.37

$15.16 $15.16

54.16%

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

$3,353 $3,353

$2,453 $2,453

36.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.0K $61.0K

$23.3K $23.3K

161.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$49.52 $49.52

46.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$29.11 $29.11

79.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$82.4 $82.4

41.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$76.9 $76.9

60.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,438 $4,438

$1,838 $1,838

141.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,045 $3,045

$1,632 $1,632

86.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,088 $9,088

$3,375 $3,375

169.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,404 $5,404

$2,660 $2,660

103.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K $18.8K

$3,101 $3,101

506.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 $6,500

$3,179 $3,179

104.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,258 $5,258

$3,113 $3,113

68.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.86

-5.39%

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 Kingston, NY: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,438 in New York, NY and $1,838 in Kingston, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 69% 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 $79.0 in Kingston, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $516 vs $434 per month, with Kingston, NY 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 Kingston, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kingston, NY is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 69% 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 $1,838 in Kingston, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,841 per month in New York, NY versus $3,053 in Kingston, NY – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kingston, NY runs roughly 115% less than in New York, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Kingston, NY is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Kingston, NY is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in New York, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Kingston, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.