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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,458 per month in New York, NY vs $2,796 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,020 per month in New York, NY vs $4,151 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,582 per month in New York, NY vs $5,507 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 59% more than Los Gatos, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both New York, NY and Los Gatos, CA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 232%, Los Gatos, CA by 108%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.87 $29.87

$30.37 $30.37

-1.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$148 $148

$111 $111

33.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.37 $12.37

$13.80 $13.80

-10.36%

Cappuccino

$6.07 $6.07

$4.92 $4.92

23.37%

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

$3.21 $3.21

$2.91 $2.91

10.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.21 $2.21

19.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 $7.88

$9.14 $9.14

-13.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.19 $12.19

$8.10 $8.10

50.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.42 $1.42

9.15%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.96 $4.96

3.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.16 $8.16

$3.06 $3.06

166.67%

Eggs

$6.96 $6.96

$5.54 $5.54

25.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.53 $17.53

$13.15 $13.15

33.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$15.10 $15.10

7.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.40 $20.40

$17.00 $17.00

20.00%

Apples (1kg)

$7.60 $7.60

$7.87 $7.87

-3.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.18 $2.18

12.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.54 $4.54

24.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.04 $5.04

28.37%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.96 $2.96

25.68%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.34 $3.34

19.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.13 $2.13

47.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.64 $2.64

-7.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.92 $18.92

$10.77 $10.77

75.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.27 $20.27

$12.78 $12.78

58.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.78 $1.78

61.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$4.05 $4.05

-4.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.02 $2.02

43.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$132 $132

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.10 $5.10

$3.59 $3.59

42.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.84 $1.84

19.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.50 $42.50

$29.52 $29.52

43.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.23 $1.23

-22.76%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$24.2K $24.2K

46.74%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

8.10%

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

$181 $181

$214 $214

-15.64%

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

$59.8 $59.8

$39.69 $39.69

50.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$62.0 $62.0

2.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$42.40 $42.40

232.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.9 $64.9

Cinema Ticket

$19.92 $19.92

$14.21 $14.21

40.18%

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

$3,208 $3,208

$1,132 $1,132

183.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.8K $57.8K

$24.4K $24.4K

137.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.3 $68.3

$55.6 $55.6

22.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.77 $48.77

$40.15 $40.15

21.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$92.5 $92.5

22.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$81.4 $81.4

111.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,213 $4,213

$1,591 $1,591

164.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,706 $2,706

$1,365 $1,365

98.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,515 $8,515

$2,612 $2,612

226.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,231 $5,231

$2,178 $2,178

140.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.9K $17.9K

$3,485 $3,485

413.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,389 $6,389

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,445 $5,445

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.67

-3.45%

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 Los Gatos, CA: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,213 in New York, NY versus $1,591 in Los Gatos, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $148 in New York, NY versus $111 in Los Gatos, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $458 – making Los Gatos, CA 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 Los Gatos, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 59% more than Los Gatos, CA, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,687 per month in New York, NY and $4,194 in Los Gatos, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $148 in New York, NY and $111 in Los Gatos, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,458 in New York, NY and $2,796 in Los Gatos, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Los Gatos, CA costs $2,796 versus $4,458 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Los Gatos, CA. 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.