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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,415 in New York, NY versus $3,552 in Los Angeles, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,980 in New York, NY versus $5,496 in Los Angeles, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,544 in New York, NY versus $7,440 in Los Angeles, CA.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 24% more expensive than in Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 230% above, Los Angeles, CA 166% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.48 $29.48

$24.75 $24.75

19.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$101 $101

41.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.41 $12.41

$14.15 $14.15

-12.30%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$5.85 $5.85

3.93%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$2.89 $2.89

15.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.33 $2.33

15.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.17 $8.17

$8.35 $8.35

-2.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.04 $12.04

$9.91 $9.91

21.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.25 $1.25

29.60%

White Bread (500g)

$5.08 $5.08

$4.30 $4.30

18.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.12 $8.12

$5.93 $5.93

36.93%

Eggs

$6.87 $6.87

$7.61 $7.61

-9.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$12.62 $12.62

39.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$16.94 $16.94

-3.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.81 $19.81

$19.39 $19.39

2.17%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 $7.66

$6.09 $6.09

25.78%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.65 $2.65

-4.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$4.20 $4.20

33.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.72 $4.72

35.59%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.99 $2.99

28.43%

Onion (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.54 $2.54

61.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.93 $1.93

59.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.13 $2.13

16.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.83 $18.83

$11.95 $11.95

57.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$15.24 $15.24

29.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.63 $2.63

13.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.15 $3.15

19.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.71 $1.71

71.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$83.7 $83.7

58.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.04 $3.04

66.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.72 $1.72

27.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.75 $42.75

$29.32 $29.32

45.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.24 $1.24

-21.77%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$31.5K $31.5K

11.11%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$26.5K $26.5K

7.00%

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

$182 $182

$179 $179

1.59%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$66.6 $66.6

-9.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 $63.5

$71.0 $71.0

-10.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$48.11 $48.11

196.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 $63.6

$12.39 $12.39

413.56%

Cinema Ticket

$19.89 $19.89

$17.89 $17.89

11.18%

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

$3,129 $3,129

$1,798 $1,798

74.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$58.2K $58.2K

$23.7K $23.7K

145.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$61.8 $61.8

9.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$47.17 $47.17

0.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$101 $101

11.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$152 $152

14.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,145 $4,145

$2,624 $2,624

57.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,043 $2,043

31.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,255 $8,255

$4,452 $4,452

85.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,298 $5,298

$3,836 $3,836

38.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.5K $18.5K

$7,442 $7,442

149.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,505 $6,505

$6,892 $6,892

-5.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,520 $5,520

$4,486 $4,486

23.05%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Los Angeles, CA: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,145 in New York, NY and $2,624 in Los Angeles, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 23% 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: $143 in New York, NY vs $101 in Los Angeles, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $553 vs $474 per month, with Los Angeles, CA 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 Los Angeles, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Los Angeles, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 23% higher in New York, NY, 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: $4,145 in New York, NY versus $2,624 in Los Angeles, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Los Angeles, CA runs roughly 59% less than in New York, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $3,129 in New York, NY versus $1,798 in Los Angeles, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Los Angeles, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Los Angeles, CA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in New York, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Los Angeles, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.