Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Long Island, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Long Island, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,458 per month in New York, NY vs $3,522 in Long Island, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,020 per month in New York, NY vs $5,143 in Long Island, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,582 per month in New York, NY vs $6,764 in Long Island, NY, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 27% more than Long Island, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Long Island, NY sit above the global median – New York, NY by 232%, Long Island, NY by 162%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.87 $29.87

$20.03 $20.03

49.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$148 $148

$98.7 $98.7

49.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.37 $12.37

$13.61 $13.61

-9.11%

Cappuccino

$6.07 $6.07

$4.90 $4.90

23.88%

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

$3.21 $3.21

$2.39 $2.39

34.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$1.76 $1.76

50.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.85 $6.85

15.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.19 $12.19

$8.05 $8.05

51.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.25 $1.25

24.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.67 $3.67

40.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.16 $8.16

$4.93 $4.93

65.52%

Eggs

$6.96 $6.96

$4.90 $4.90

42.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.53 $17.53

$17.48 $17.48

0.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$11.95 $11.95

35.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.40 $20.40

$15.17 $15.17

34.48%

Apples (1kg)

$7.60 $7.60

$4.85 $4.85

56.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.76 $1.76

39.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.05 $4.05

39.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$4.12 $4.12

57.04%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.72 $2.72

36.76%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.81 $3.81

4.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.23 $2.23

41.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.34 $2.34

4.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.92 $18.92

$12.03 $12.03

57.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.27 $20.27

$14.73 $14.73

37.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.69 $1.69

70.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$4.08 $4.08

-4.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.96 $2.96

-2.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$132 $132

$127 $127

4.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.10 $5.10

$3.04 $3.04

67.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.01 $2.01

8.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.50 $42.50

$24.09 $24.09

76.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.91 $0.91

4.40%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$24.4K $24.4K

45.37%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$24.9K $24.9K

13.63%

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

$181 $181

$128 $128

41.56%

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

$59.8 $59.8

$45.10 $45.10

32.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$61.9 $61.9

3.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$33.48 $33.48

320.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.9 $64.9

Cinema Ticket

$19.92 $19.92

$12.76 $12.76

56.11%

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

$3,208 $3,208

$2,246 $2,246

42.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.8K $57.8K

$24.0K $24.0K

141.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.3 $68.3

$40.65 $40.65

68.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.77 $48.77

$62.6 $62.6

-22.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$74.9 $74.9

50.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$130 $130

32.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,213 $4,213

$2,336 $2,336

80.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,706 $2,706

$2,251 $2,251

20.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,515 $8,515

$4,152 $4,152

105.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,231 $5,231

$3,595 $3,595

45.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.9K $17.9K

$4,243 $4,243

322.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,389 $6,389

$4,299 $4,299

48.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,445 $5,445

$5,053 $5,053

7.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

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 Long Island, NY: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,213 in New York, NY versus $2,336 in Long Island, NY. 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 8% 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 $99.0 in Long Island, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $417 – making Long Island, NY 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 Island, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,458 in New York, NY, $3,522 in Long Island, NY – roughly 27% apart. New York, NY costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,687 per month in New York, NY and $5,282 in Long Island, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $3,208 per month in New York, NY and $2,246 in Long Island, NY. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 33% 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 $4,458 in New York, NY and $3,522 in Long Island, NY. 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 $3,522 in Long Island, NY to $4,458 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 Island, NY. 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.