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: $4,503 in New York, NY versus $3,664 in Los Angeles, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,077 in New York, NY versus $5,504 in Los Angeles, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,650 in New York, NY versus $7,344 in Los Angeles, CA.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 23% more expensive than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 236% above, Los Angeles, CA 173% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$24.71 $24.71

22.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$102 $102

40.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$14.02 $14.02

-9.77%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$5.93 $5.93

-2.02%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.84 $2.84

14.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.24 $2.24

15.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$8.67 $8.67

-5.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$9.84 $9.84

20.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.23 $1.23

24.39%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$4.48 $4.48

17.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$5.71 $5.71

46.06%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$7.59 $7.59

-4.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$12.84 $12.84

34.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$17.20 $17.20

-5.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$19.44 $19.44

1.95%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$6.07 $6.07

24.71%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.65 $2.65

-8.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$4.35 $4.35

34.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.85 $4.85

31.75%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.96 $2.96

30.74%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.51 $2.51

61.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.86 $1.86

67.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.22 $2.22

10.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$11.64 $11.64

65.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$15.03 $15.03

32.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.58 $2.58

15.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.18 $3.18

17.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.73 $1.73

64.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$82.6 $82.6

62.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.13 $3.13

63.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.66 $1.66

27.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$29.23 $29.23

44.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.26 $1.26

-23.02%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$31.3K $31.3K

10.86%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$26.6K $26.6K

4.69%

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

$181 $181

$186 $186

-2.25%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$65.5 $65.5

-7.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$70.1 $70.1

-10.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$47.21 $47.21

203.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

$12.32 $12.32

429.71%

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$17.80 $17.80

12.25%

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

$3,216 $3,216

$1,784 $1,784

80.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$23.7K $23.7K

141.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$62.4 $62.4

8.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$47.15 $47.15

1.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$103 $103

8.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$150 $150

12.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$2,564 $2,564

59.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$2,032 $2,032

32.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$4,424 $4,424

90.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$3,768 $3,768

36.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$7,833 $7,833

132.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

$6,979 $6,979

-9.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

$4,380 $4,380

26.49%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Los Angeles, CA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,092 in New York, NY and $2,564 in Los Angeles, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 26% 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: $142 in New York, NY vs $102 in Los Angeles, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $478 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 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

New York, NY pays 26% more on average, 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: $4,092 in New York, NY versus $2,564 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 63% less than in New York, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $3,216 in New York, NY versus $1,784 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 23% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.