Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 19.9% more expensive than Los Angeles, CA without rent, and 26.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 27.7% more expensive than Los Angeles, CA without rent, and 31.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.05 $30.05

$25.17 $25.17

19.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$100 $100

41.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$14.14 $14.14

-13.22%

Cappuccino

$5.99 $5.99

$5.69 $5.69

5.27%

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

$3.31 $3.31

$2.93 $2.93

12.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.34 $2.34

15.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.23 $8.23

$8.27 $8.27

-0.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.04 $12.04

$9.90 $9.90

21.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.25 $1.25

22.40%

White Bread (500g)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.49 $4.49

15.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.41 $8.41

$5.75 $5.75

46.26%

Eggs

$7.21 $7.21

$7.44 $7.44

-3.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.68 $17.68

$12.63 $12.63

39.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.44 $16.44

$16.67 $16.67

-1.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.98 $19.98

$19.45 $19.45

2.72%

Apples (1kg)

$7.34 $7.34

$5.86 $5.86

25.26%

Banana (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.65 $2.65

-6.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$4.28 $4.28

33.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.55 $6.55

$4.76 $4.76

37.61%

Potato (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$2.99 $2.99

28.76%

Onion (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$2.43 $2.43

62.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.92 $1.92

60.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.17 $2.17

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.19 $19.19

$11.64 $11.64

64.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.35 $18.35

$14.86 $14.86

23.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.52 $2.52

18.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 $3.81

$3.28 $3.28

16.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.80 $1.80

63.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$81.8 $81.8

64.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.92 $4.92

$3.16 $3.16

55.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.70 $1.70

24.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.15 $42.15

$29.56 $29.56

42.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.30 $1.30

-25.38%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$32.3K $32.3K

9.27%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$26.5K $26.5K

3.85%

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

$182 $182

$184 $184

-1.29%

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

$59.3 $59.3

$65.7 $65.7

-9.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.9 $62.9

$69.8 $69.8

-9.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$142 $142

$47.72 $47.72

196.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.2 $65.2

$12.35 $12.35

427.61%

Cinema Ticket

$20.25 $20.25

$17.76 $17.76

14.02%

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

$3,193 $3,193

$1,806 $1,806

76.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.7K $57.7K

$24.1K $24.1K

139.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$62.7 $62.7

8.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.71 $47.71

$46.63 $46.63

2.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 $114

$102 $102

12.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 $171

$153 $153

11.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,152 $4,152

$2,647 $2,647

56.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,695 $2,695

$2,091 $2,091

28.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,492 $8,492

$4,452 $4,452

90.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,225 $5,225

$3,751 $3,751

39.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$21.5K $21.5K

$7,616 $7,616

182.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.0K $10.0K

$7,027 $7,027

42.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,197 $5,197

$4,669 $4,669

11.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.49

-0.77%

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

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

Last update for Los Angeles, CA: January 11, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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