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 28% more expensive than Lake Forest, CA without rent, and 53.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 36.3% more expensive than Lake Forest, CA without rent, and 52.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.67 $29.67

$24.98 $24.98

18.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 $144

$98.3 $98.3

46.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.59 $12.59

$10.12 $10.12

24.41%

Cappuccino

$5.98 $5.98

$5.8 $5.8

3.10%

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

$3.39 $3.39

$2.74 $2.74

23.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.29 $2.29

11.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.17 $8.17

$8.68 $8.68

-5.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.87 $11.87

$8.73 $8.73

35.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.17 $1.17

38.46%

White Bread (500g)

$5.08 $5.08

$4.5 $4.5

12.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.1 $8.1

$4.78 $4.78

69.46%

Eggs

$6.93 $6.93

$4.58 $4.58

51.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.51 $17.51

$12.69 $12.69

37.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.66 $16.66

$17.1 $17.1

-2.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$19.88 $19.88

1.66%

Apples (1kg)

$7.65 $7.65

$6.47 $6.47

18.24%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.84 $1.84

33.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.8 $5.8

$4.32 $4.32

34.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.43 $6.43

$5.48 $5.48

17.34%

Potato (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$3.17 $3.17

20.19%

Onion (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.06 $3.06

34.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.92 $1.92

59.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.19 $2.19

11.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.23 $19.23

$9.59 $9.59

100.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.19 $18.19

$19.69 $19.69

-7.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.76 $1.76

69.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 $3.89

$4.11 $4.11

-5.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.51 $3.51

-16.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.95 $4.95

$3.14 $3.14

57.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.2 $2.2

$2.69 $2.69

-18.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.94 $41.94

$29.16 $29.16

43.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.9 $0.9

$1.3 $1.3

-30.77%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$29K $29K

21.29%

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

$28.4K $28.4K

$27K $27K

5.39%

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

$184 $184

$202 $202

-8.78%

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

$60.5 $60.5

$53.9 $53.9

12.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$72.5 $72.5

-14.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$49.69 $49.69

183.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.9 $63.9

Cinema Ticket

$20.05 $20.05

$17.16 $17.16

16.84%

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

$3,180 $3,180

$1,782 $1,782

78.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.3K $57.3K

$23.4K $23.4K

144.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$63.1 $63.1

4.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.98 $47.98

$39.96 $39.96

20.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$100 $100

13.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$167 $167

$153 $153

9.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,112 $4,112

$1,434 $1,434

186.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,636 $2,636

$1,493 $1,493

76.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,529 $8,529

$3,156 $3,156

170.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,190 $5,190

$2,812 $2,812

84.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$15.2K $15.2K

$8,186 $8,186

85.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.2K $11.2K

$6,857 $6,857

62.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,445 $5,445

$6,963 $6,963

-21.81%

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: November 5, 2025

Last update for Lake Forest, CA: November 3, 2025

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