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 $4,841 per month in New York, NY vs $3,624 in Long Island, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,287 per month in New York, NY vs $5,315 in Long Island, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,734 per month in New York, NY vs $7,005 in Long Island, NY, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 34% 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 254%, Long Island, NY by 165%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.33 $25.33

$24.86 $24.86

1.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$101 $101

40.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$10.96 $10.96

25.73%

Cappuccino

$6.19 $6.19

$5.00 $5.00

23.80%

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

$3.69 $3.69

$2.21 $2.21

66.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.58 $1.58

87.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$7.94 $7.94

-2.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$7.87 $7.87

28.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.33 $1.33

4.51%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.39 $4.39

4.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$1.98 $1.98

250.51%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$5.13 $5.13

12.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$12.38 $12.38

39.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$11.80 $11.80

27.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.02 $18.02

$16.75 $16.75

7.58%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$4.28 $4.28

46.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.27 $1.27

67.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$2.13 $2.13

172.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$5.02 $5.02

25.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$1.12 $1.12

202.68%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$2.16 $2.16

97.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.53 $1.53

81.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.56 $1.56

64.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$11.30 $11.30

65.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 $20.30

$14.71 $14.71

38.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.70 $1.70

85.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$4.12 $4.12

-2.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.82 $2.82

5.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

$130 $130

6.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.96 $2.96

4.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.04 $2.04

4.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

$23.88 $23.88

74.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.06 $1.06

6.60%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$36.4K $36.4K

-2.60%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.3K $25.3K

1.27%

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

$236 $236

$217 $217

9.00%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$46.87 $46.87

57.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$53.5 $53.5

35.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$31.24 $31.24

300.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.1 $63.1

$103 $103

-38.96%

Cinema Ticket

$23.37 $23.37

$14.71 $14.71

58.87%

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

$3,353 $3,353

$2,286 $2,286

46.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.0K $61.0K

$23.4K $23.4K

160.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$40.09 $40.09

80.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$57.7 $57.7

-9.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$77.2 $77.2

50.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$154 $154

-19.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,438 $4,438

$2,632 $2,632

68.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,045 $3,045

$2,271 $2,271

34.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,088 $9,088

$4,705 $4,705

93.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,404 $5,404

$3,556 $3,556

51.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K $18.8K

$4,332 $4,332

334.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 $6,500

$4,315 $4,315

50.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,258 $5,258

$4,938 $4,938

6.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.17

5.19%

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

Last update for New York, NY: September 12, 2026

Last update for Long Island, NY: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,438 in New York, NY versus $2,632 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 6% 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 $142 in New York, NY versus $101 in Long Island, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $516 vs $373 – 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: $4,841 in New York, NY, $3,624 in Long Island, NY – roughly 34% apart. New York, NY costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,261 per month in New York, NY and $5,437 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 $3,353 per month in New York, NY and $2,286 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 38% 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 $4,841 in New York, NY and $3,624 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 $3,624 in Long Island, NY to $4,841 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.