Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Maui, HI Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Maui, HI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,852 per month in New York, NY vs $4,713 in Maui, HI, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,370 per month in New York, NY vs $6,600 in Maui, HI, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,889 per month in New York, NY vs $8,487 in Maui, HI, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 3% more than Maui, HI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Maui, HI sit above the global median – New York, NY by 252%, Maui, HI by 242%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.42 $25.42

$34.33 $34.33

-25.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$120 $120

17.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.97 $13.97

$15.06 $15.06

-7.24%

Cappuccino

$6.42 $6.42

$6.56 $6.56

-2.13%

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

$3.91 $3.91

$3.13 $3.13

24.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.79 $2.79

6.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$8.20 $8.20

-4.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.86 $9.86

$9.20 $9.20

7.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$2.21 $2.21

-39.82%

White Bread (500g)

$4.73 $4.73

$8.62 $8.62

-45.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.89 $6.89

$8.94 $8.94

-22.93%

Eggs

$5.63 $5.63

$8.80 $8.80

-36.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$27.28 $27.28

-36.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.02 $15.02

$15.64 $15.64

-3.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.97 $17.97

$21.97 $21.97

-18.21%

Apples (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$10.14 $10.14

-40.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.17 $2.17

-0.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$10.04 $10.04

-41.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.21 $6.21

$7.95 $7.95

-21.89%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$6.45 $6.45

-47.29%

Onion (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$7.86 $7.86

-45.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 $2.67

$5.07 $5.07

-47.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.62 $3.62

-32.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$16.93 $16.93

10.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.72 $19.72

$19.68 $19.68

0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.24 $3.24

$1.68 $1.68

92.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 $3.91

$7.78 $7.78

-49.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.77 $2.77

6.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$139 $139

$99.7 $99.7

39.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 $3.03

$10.08 $10.08

-69.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$0.91 $0.91

143.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.33 $41.33

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.25 $1.25

-13.60%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$37.0K $37.0K

-4.60%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$28.2K $28.2K

-11.41%

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

$236 $236

$382 $382

-38.22%

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

$73.5 $73.5

$61.2 $61.2

19.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$74.4 $74.4

2.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$128 $128

$30.01 $30.01

327.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.5 $63.5

Cinema Ticket

$23.19 $23.19

$14.87 $14.87

55.95%

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

$3,340 $3,340

$1,674 $1,674

99.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$59.9K $59.9K

$17.0K $17.0K

253.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.8 $72.8

$88.7 $88.7

-17.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.1 $54.1

$54.5 $54.5

-0.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$131 $131

-9.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$198 $198

-36.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,467 $4,467

$2,265 $2,265

97.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,988 $2,988

$2,648 $2,648

12.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,222 $9,222

$4,639 $4,639

98.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,537 $5,537

$3,785 $3,785

46.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.9K $18.9K

$14.2K $14.2K

32.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,621 $6,621

$9,077 $9,077

-27.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,327 $5,327

$5,547 $5,547

-3.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.58

-1.37%

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

Last update for New York, NY: September 7, 2026

Last update for Maui, HI: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,467 in New York, NY versus $2,265 in Maui, HI. 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 4% higher in Maui, HI, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $142 in New York, NY versus $120 in Maui, HI. Groceries tell a different story – $512 in New York, NY vs $711 in Maui, HI – so New York, NY wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Maui, HI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,852 in New York, NY, $4,713 in Maui, HI – roughly 3% apart. New York, NY costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,278 per month in New York, NY and $7,069 in Maui, HI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $3,340 per month in New York, NY and $1,674 in Maui, HI. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 39% cheaper in New York, NY – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$5,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,852 in New York, NY and $4,713 in Maui, HI. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. New York, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $4,713 in Maui, HI to $4,852 in New York, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Maui, HI. 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.