Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Lawrence, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Lawrence, KS

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,458 per month in New York, NY vs $2,082 in Lawrence, KS, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,020 per month in New York, NY vs $3,317 in Lawrence, KS, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,582 per month in New York, NY vs $4,552 in Lawrence, KS, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 114% more than Lawrence, KS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Lawrence, KS sit above the global median – New York, NY by 232%, Lawrence, KS by 55%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.87 $29.87

$14.82 $14.82

101.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$148 $148

$76.4 $76.4

93.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.37 $12.37

$9.98 $9.98

23.95%

Cappuccino

$6.07 $6.07

$5.18 $5.18

17.18%

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

$3.21 $3.21

$3.02 $3.02

6.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$1.92 $1.92

38.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 $7.88

$5.04 $5.04

56.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.19 $12.19

$6.83 $6.83

78.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 $1.55

$0.85 $0.85

82.35%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.62 $2.62

96.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.16 $8.16

$4.46 $4.46

82.96%

Eggs

$6.96 $6.96

$3.30 $3.30

110.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.53 $17.53

$11.37 $11.37

54.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$11.04 $11.04

46.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.40 $20.40

$15.80 $15.80

29.11%

Apples (1kg)

$7.60 $7.60

$6.25 $6.25

21.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.23 $2.23

9.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$5.00 $5.00

12.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$3.84 $3.84

68.49%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$1.84 $1.84

102.17%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$2.78 $2.78

43.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.54 $1.54

104.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.44 $2.44

0.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.92 $18.92

$8.05 $8.05

135.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.27 $20.27

$13.10 $13.10

54.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.79 $1.79

60.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$1.66 $1.66

133.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.89 $2.89

$0.48 $0.48

502.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$132 $132

$24.70 $24.70

435.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.10 $5.10

$2.94 $2.94

73.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.39 $1.39

57.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.50 $42.50

$25.25 $25.25

68.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.76 $0.76

25.00%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$34.7K $34.7K

2.43%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$26.9K $26.9K

5.32%

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

$181 $181

$326 $326

-44.59%

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

$59.8 $59.8

$52.2 $52.2

14.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$64.3 $64.3

-0.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$45.80 $45.80

207.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.9 $64.9

$12.11 $12.11

435.59%

Cinema Ticket

$19.92 $19.92

$12.05 $12.05

65.31%

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

$3,208 $3,208

$905 $905

254.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.8K $57.8K

$24.4K $24.4K

136.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.3 $68.3

$53.5 $53.5

27.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.77 $48.77

$35.61 $35.61

36.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$94.5 $94.5

19.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$91.7 $91.7

88.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,213 $4,213

$939 $939

348.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,706 $2,706

$793 $793

241.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,515 $8,515

$1,551 $1,551

449.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,231 $5,231

$1,780 $1,780

193.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.9K $17.9K

$2,358 $2,358

659.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,389 $6,389

$2,108 $2,108

203.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,445 $5,445

$3,920 $3,920

38.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.45

-0.16%

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

Last update for New York, NY: June 7, 2026

Last update for Lawrence, KS: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,213 in New York, NY versus $939 in Lawrence, KS. 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 39% higher in New York, NY, 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 $148 in New York, NY versus $76.0 in Lawrence, KS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $371 – making Lawrence, KS 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 Lawrence, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 114% more than Lawrence, KS, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,687 per month in New York, NY and $3,123 in Lawrence, KS. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 49% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $148 in New York, NY and $76.0 in Lawrence, KS. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lawrence, KS, where all-in costs run around $2,082, than in New York, NY at $4,458. In Lawrence, KS it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lawrence, KS costs $2,082 versus $4,458 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Lawrence, KS. 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.