Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Lake Forest, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Lake Forest, CA

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 36.3% more expensive than Lake Forest, CA without rent, and 51% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 46.3% more expensive than Lake Forest, CA without rent, and 55.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.09 $30.09

$24.55 $24.55

22.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$99.6 $99.6

43.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.73 $12.73

$9.82 $9.82

29.63%

Cappuccino

$6.01 $6.01

$5.70 $5.70

5.44%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$2.61 $2.61

27.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.31 $2.31

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$8.58 $8.58

-8.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.97 $11.97

$8.63 $8.63

38.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.24 $1.24

26.61%

White Bread (500g)

$5.15 $5.15

$4.27 $4.27

20.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.26 $8.26

$4.63 $4.63

78.40%

Eggs

$7.02 $7.02

$4.59 $4.59

52.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.49 $17.49

$12.50 $12.50

39.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.56 $16.56

$16.69 $16.69

-0.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.39 $20.39

$19.49 $19.49

4.62%

Apples (1kg)

$7.37 $7.37

$6.26 $6.26

17.73%

Banana (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.93 $1.93

27.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$4.39 $4.39

29.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$5.48 $5.48

17.70%

Potato (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$3.29 $3.29

17.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.09 $3.09

27.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.83 $1.83

71.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.12 $2.12

17.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.78 $18.78

$9.80 $9.80

91.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.23 $18.23

$16.31 $16.31

11.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.76 $1.76

67.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.91 $3.91

-4.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.47 $3.47

-14.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$132 $132

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.12 $3.12

55.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.82 $2.82

-22.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.87 $41.87

$29.67 $29.67

41.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.30 $1.30

-25.38%

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

$34.3K $34.3K

$29.1K $29.1K

18.24%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$26.8K $26.8K

4.71%

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

$182 $182

$205 $205

-10.81%

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

$60.7 $60.7

$54.5 $54.5

11.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$72.9 $72.9

-14.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$50.9 $50.9

180.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.5 $65.5

Cinema Ticket

$19.78 $19.78

$17.35 $17.35

14.01%

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

$3,189 $3,189

$1,800 $1,800

77.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.1K $57.1K

$24.1K $24.1K

137.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.3 $67.3

$62.8 $62.8

7.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.64 $48.64

$40.63 $40.63

19.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$102 $102

9.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$150 $150

14.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,162 $4,162

$1,455 $1,455

186.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,667 $2,667

$1,509 $1,509

76.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,481 $8,481

$3,138 $3,138

170.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,161 $5,161

$2,816 $2,816

83.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.4K $20.4K

$8,109 $8,109

151.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,438 $9,438

$7,045 $7,045

33.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,201 $5,201

$6,853 $6,853

-24.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.49

-0.77%

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

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

Last update for Lake Forest, CA: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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