Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Lowell, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Lowell, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,443 per month in New York, NY vs $2,669 in Lowell, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,945 per month in New York, NY vs $4,314 in Lowell, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,447 per month in New York, NY vs $5,958 in Lowell, MA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 66% more than Lowell, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Lowell, MA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 234%, Lowell, MA by 101%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.45 $30.45

$19.02 $19.02

60.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$146 $146

$79.4 $79.4

83.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.71 $12.71

$8.86 $8.86

43.45%

Cappuccino

$5.87 $5.87

$4.60 $4.60

27.61%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$1.94 $1.94

65.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.73 $1.73

56.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$6.16 $6.16

32.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.89 $11.89

$7.46 $7.46

59.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$0.88 $0.88

77.27%

White Bread (500g)

$5.01 $5.01

$2.15 $2.15

133.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.33 $8.33

$3.15 $3.15

164.44%

Eggs

$7.02 $7.02

$3.93 $3.93

78.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$10.83 $10.83

60.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.72 $16.72

$9.02 $9.02

85.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.01 $20.01

$20.90 $20.90

-4.26%

Apples (1kg)

$7.72 $7.72

$2.76 $2.76

179.71%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.20 $1.20

105.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$5.87 $5.87

-2.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$6.02 $6.02

6.64%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$1.64 $1.64

128.66%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.47 $4.47

-12.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.01 $3.01

1.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.27 $2.27

13.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.84 $18.84

$11.12 $11.12

69.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$14.91 $14.91

31.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.76 $1.76

70.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$2.06 $2.06

88.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.86 $1.86

54.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$54.4 $54.4

144.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.93 $3.93

30.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.73 $1.73

27.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.93 $41.93

$29.08 $29.08

44.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.91 $0.91

7.69%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$30.0K $30.0K

17.86%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$26.1K $26.1K

5.56%

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

$184 $184

$192 $192

-4.16%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$51.3 $51.3

16.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 $62.4

$63.9 $63.9

-2.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$40.53 $40.53

244.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.0 $65.0

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$14.47 $14.47

40.50%

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

$3,153 $3,153

$1,387 $1,387

127.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.8K $56.8K

$23.4K $23.4K

142.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$51.8 $51.8

31.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.89 $47.89

$32.40 $32.40

47.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$66.5 $66.5

73.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$69.0 $69.0

151.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,125 $4,125

$1,623 $1,623

154.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,685 $2,685

$1,430 $1,430

87.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,262 $8,262

$3,633 $3,633

127.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,258 $5,258

$3,122 $3,122

68.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

$3,454 $3,454

440.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,584 $5,584

$3,923 $3,923

42.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.45

-0.16%

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

Last update for New York, NY: July 25, 2026

Last update for Lowell, MA: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,125 in New York, NY versus $1,623 in Lowell, MA. 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 42% 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 $146 in New York, NY versus $79.0 in Lowell, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $555 vs $369 – making Lowell, MA 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 Lowell, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 66%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,664 per month in New York, NY and $4,003 in Lowell, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 144% less in Lowell, MA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $3,153 per month in New York, NY and $1,387 in Lowell, MA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,443 in New York, NY and $2,669 in Lowell, MA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Lowell, MA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Lowell, MA. 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.