Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Lima, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Lima, OH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,438 in New York, NY versus $2,453 in Lima, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,016 in New York, NY versus $3,828 in Lima, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,593 in New York, NY versus $5,204 in Lima, OH.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 81% more expensive than Lima, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 231% above, Lima, OH 83% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.91 $29.91

$20.28 $20.28

47.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 $144

$79.5 $79.5

80.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$10.95 $10.95

12.51%

Cappuccino

$6.03 $6.03

$4.91 $4.91

22.81%

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

$3.39 $3.39

$2.56 $2.56

32.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.20 $2.20

16.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.20 $8.20

$5.66 $5.66

44.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.95 $11.95

$7.08 $7.08

68.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.83 $0.83

85.54%

White Bread (500g)

$5.15 $5.15

$3.11 $3.11

65.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.43 $8.43

$4.08 $4.08

106.62%

Eggs

$6.97 $6.97

$3.14 $3.14

121.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.28 $17.28

$13.29 $13.29

30.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$14.08 $14.08

15.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.95 $19.95

$16.20 $16.20

23.15%

Apples (1kg)

$7.45 $7.45

$5.91 $5.91

26.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.31 $1.31

84.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$5.53 $5.53

6.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$5.17 $5.17

22.05%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.76 $3.76

-1.06%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.07 $3.07

29.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.17 $2.17

47.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.08 $2.08

22.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.09 $19.09

$9.43 $9.43

102.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.24 $20.24

$14.78 $14.78

36.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.02 $2.02

48.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.55 $2.55

51.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.96 $1.96

50.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

$42.84 $42.84

205.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 $5.13

$2.94 $2.94

74.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.51 $1.51

45.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.64 $42.64

$26.90 $26.90

58.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.82 $0.82

15.85%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$30.3K $30.3K

13.96%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

9.76%

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

$182 $182

$276 $276

-34.22%

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

$60.1 $60.1

$61.2 $61.2

-1.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$69.0 $69.0

-10.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$36.75 $36.75

281.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.4 $64.4

$34.55 $34.55

86.43%

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$11.98 $11.98

69.70%

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

$3,222 $3,222

$1,251 $1,251

157.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.2K $56.2K

$15.0K $15.0K

273.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.9 $65.9

$55.1 $55.1

19.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$38.58 $38.58

22.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$80.1 $80.1

38.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$173 $173

$102 $102

69.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,208 $4,208

$867 $867

385.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,647 $2,647

$1,115 $1,115

137.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,415 $8,415

$2,672 $2,672

214.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,170 $5,170

$2,215 $2,215

133.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.1K $20.1K

$1,431 $1,431

1303.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,742 $8,742

$1,400 $1,400

524.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,144 $5,144

$5,104 $5,104

0.78%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Lima, OH: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,208 in New York, NY and $867 in Lima, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 1% 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: $144 in New York, NY vs $79 in Lima, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $408 per month, with Lima, OH 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 Lima, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY and Lima, OH differ by about 81% in total monthly costs ($4,438 vs $2,453 including rent). Lima, OH is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

New York, NY pays 1% more on average, 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: $4,208 in New York, NY versus $867 in Lima, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Lima, OH – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $144 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,453 in Lima, OH versus $4,438 in New York, NY, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lima, OH but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Lima, OH the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, New York, NY and Lima, OH are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lima, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.