Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Long Branch, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Long Branch, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,459 per month in New York, NY vs $2,822 in Long Branch, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,988 per month in New York, NY vs $4,137 in Long Branch, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,517 per month in New York, NY vs $5,453 in Long Branch, NJ, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 58% more than Long Branch, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both New York, NY and Long Branch, NJ sit above the global median – New York, NY by 234%, Long Branch, NJ by 111%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.11 $30.11

$20.28 $20.28

48.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$91.3 $91.3

56.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.67 $12.67

$11.97 $11.97

5.85%

Cappuccino

$6.07 $6.07

$4.97 $4.97

22.13%

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

$3.27 $3.27

$2.60 $2.60

25.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.00 $2.00

30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$3.93 $3.93

102.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.18 $12.18

$6.89 $6.89

76.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.35 $1.35

14.07%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.23 $4.23

19.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.39 $8.39

$10.19 $10.19

-17.66%

Eggs

$7.11 $7.11

$4.29 $4.29

65.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.70 $17.70

$15.35 $15.35

15.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.71 $16.71

$13.73 $13.73

21.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.85 $19.85

$20.90 $20.90

-5.02%

Apples (1kg)

$7.38 $7.38

$5.93 $5.93

24.45%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.20 $2.20

16.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.04 $5.04

15.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.35 $6.35

$5.40 $5.40

17.59%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.43 $3.43

9.33%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.91 $2.91

39.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.92 $2.92

7.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$12.93 $12.93

44.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.79 $19.79

$16.09 $16.09

23.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.03 $2.03

48.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$4.28 $4.28

-12.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.98 $1.98

43.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.94 $4.94

$2.94 $2.94

68.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.34 $1.34

66.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.11 $42.11

$22.31 $22.31

88.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.86 $0.86

12.79%

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

$34.8K $34.8K

$27.4K $27.4K

27.30%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$26.1K $26.1K

5.99%

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

$180 $180

$270 $270

-33.10%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$63.7 $63.7

-5.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.6 $62.6

$77.6 $77.6

-19.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$142 $142

$42.92 $42.92

230.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.8 $64.8

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$14.95 $14.95

33.65%

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

$3,220 $3,220

$2,110 $2,110

52.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.0K $57.0K

$23.5K $23.5K

142.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.3 $67.3

$51.5 $51.5

30.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.36 $48.36

$42.05 $42.05

15.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$94.7 $94.7

18.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 $171

$144 $144

18.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,136 $4,136

$1,578 $1,578

162.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,635 $2,635

$1,337 $1,337

96.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,333 $8,333

$2,654 $2,654

213.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,118 $5,118

$2,257 $2,257

126.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

$3,068 $3,068

508.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$2,697 $2,697

139.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,420 $5,420

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.68

-3.59%

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 Long Branch, NJ: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,136 in New York, NY versus $1,578 in Long Branch, NJ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $143 in New York, NY versus $91.0 in Long Branch, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $555 vs $490 – making Long Branch, NJ 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 Long Branch, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,459 in New York, NY, $2,822 in Long Branch, NJ – roughly 58% apart. New York, NY costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,688 per month in New York, NY and $4,232 in Long Branch, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $143 in New York, NY and $91.0 in Long Branch, NJ. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% 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.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,459 in New York, NY and $2,822 in Long Branch, NJ. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. New York, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,822 in Long Branch, NJ to $4,459 in New York, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Long Branch, NJ. 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.