Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Lewiston, ID Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Lewiston, ID

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,459 in New York, NY versus $2,593 in Lewiston, ID.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,988 in New York, NY versus $3,757 in Lewiston, ID.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,517 in New York, NY versus $4,922 in Lewiston, ID.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 72% more expensive than in Lewiston, ID, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 234% above, Lewiston, ID 94% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.11 $30.11

$19.11 $19.11

57.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$75.7 $75.7

88.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.67 $12.67

$11.21 $11.21

13.02%

Cappuccino

$6.07 $6.07

$5.02 $5.02

20.92%

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

$3.27 $3.27

$2.51 $2.51

30.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.02 $2.02

28.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$6.12 $6.12

30.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.18 $12.18

$7.04 $7.04

73.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.05 $1.05

46.67%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.49 $3.49

45.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.39 $8.39

$4.29 $4.29

95.57%

Eggs

$7.11 $7.11

$4.11 $4.11

72.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.70 $17.70

$12.06 $12.06

46.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.71 $16.71

$11.65 $11.65

43.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.85 $19.85

$15.38 $15.38

29.06%

Apples (1kg)

$7.38 $7.38

$5.03 $5.03

46.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.62 $1.62

58.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$4.13 $4.13

41.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.35 $6.35

$4.69 $4.69

35.39%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.92 $2.92

28.42%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.76 $2.76

47.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.02 $2.02

55.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.09 $2.09

18.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$9.45 $9.45

97.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.79 $19.79

$14.53 $14.53

36.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 $3.02

$1.76 $1.76

71.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.26 $3.26

14.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.99 $1.99

43.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.94 $4.94

$3.57 $3.57

38.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.66 $1.66

34.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.11 $42.11

$28.83 $28.83

46.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.84 $0.84

15.48%

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

$34.8K $34.8K

$29.7K $29.7K

17.41%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.9K $25.9K

6.92%

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

$180 $180

$185 $185

-2.40%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$53.6 $53.6

12.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.6 $62.6

$69.0 $69.0

-9.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$142 $142

$42.55 $42.55

233.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.8 $64.8

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$13.28 $13.28

50.45%

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

$3,220 $3,220

$1,314 $1,314

145.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.0K $57.0K

$23.2K $23.2K

145.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.3 $67.3

$51.9 $51.9

29.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.36 $48.36

$39.79 $39.79

21.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$87.3 $87.3

28.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 $171

$114 $114

49.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,136 $4,136

$1,627 $1,627

154.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,635 $2,635

$1,367 $1,367

92.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,333 $8,333

$2,637 $2,637

216.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,118 $5,118

$2,195 $2,195

133.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

$3,144 $3,144

493.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$2,266 $2,266

185.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,420 $5,420

$2,620 $2,620

106.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.51

-1.08%

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

Last update for New York, NY: July 19, 2026

Last update for Lewiston, ID: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,136 in New York, NY and $1,627 in Lewiston, ID. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 107% 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: $143 in New York, NY vs $76.0 in Lewiston, ID for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $555 vs $386 per month, with Lewiston, ID 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 Lewiston, ID: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY and Lewiston, ID differ by about 72% in total monthly costs ($4,459 vs $2,593 including rent). Lewiston, ID is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 107% 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: $4,136 in New York, NY versus $1,627 in Lewiston, ID. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $4,459 per month in New York, NY versus $2,593 in Lewiston, ID – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lewiston, ID is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Lewiston, ID gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.