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 $4,503 per month in New York, NY vs $4,438 in Maui, HI, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,077 per month in New York, NY vs $6,120 in Maui, HI, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,650 per month in New York, NY vs $7,801 in Maui, HI, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 1% more than Maui, HI, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both New York, NY and Maui, HI sit above the global median – New York, NY by 236%, Maui, HI by 231%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$30.22 $30.22

0.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$109 $109

30.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$14.72 $14.72

-14.06%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$6.42 $6.42

-9.50%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.77 $2.77

17.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.81 $2.81

-8.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$8.16 $8.16

0.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$7.83 $7.83

50.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.01 $2.01

-23.88%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$3.53 $3.53

49.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$8.96 $8.96

-6.92%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$8.69 $8.69

-16.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$12.02 $12.02

43.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$15.45 $15.45

4.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$21.89 $21.89

-9.46%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$4.86 $4.86

55.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.23 $2.23

8.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$4.20 $4.20

38.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.79 $4.79

33.40%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.92 $2.92

32.53%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.85 $2.85

42.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.06 $2.06

51.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$3.63 $3.63

-32.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$9.86 $9.86

95.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$19.72 $19.72

1.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.70 $1.70

75.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.26 $3.26

14.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.44 $3.44

-17.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$98.9 $98.9

35.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.60 $3.60

41.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$0.89 $0.89

137.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$28.92 $28.92

46.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.28 $1.28

-24.22%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$38.1K $38.1K

-8.93%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$29.2K $29.2K

-4.89%

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

$181 $181

$393 $393

-53.81%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$61.5 $61.5

-2.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$74.4 $74.4

-16.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$30.56 $30.56

368.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$15.14 $15.14

31.97%

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

$3,216 $3,216

$1,629 $1,629

97.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$16.7K $16.7K

242.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$89.5 $89.5

-24.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$54.1 $54.1

-11.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$128 $128

-12.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$201 $201

-16.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$2,283 $2,283

79.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$2,604 $2,604

3.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$4,590 $4,590

83.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$3,817 $3,817

34.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$2,659 $2,659

583.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

$2,345 $2,345

168.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

$5,685 $5,685

-2.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.66

-3.30%

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 Maui, HI: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,092 in New York, NY versus $2,283 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 3% 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 $109 in Maui, HI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $504 – making Maui, HI 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 Maui, HI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,503 in New York, NY, $4,438 in Maui, HI – roughly 1% apart. New York, NY costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,754 per month in New York, NY and $6,657 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 $3,216 per month in New York, NY and $1,629 in Maui, HI. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% 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.

$5,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,503 in New York, NY and $4,438 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 $4,438 in Maui, HI to $4,503 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.