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 $4,415 per month in New York, NY vs $4,414 in Maui, HI, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,980 per month in New York, NY vs $6,113 in Maui, HI, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,544 per month in New York, NY vs $7,812 in Maui, HI, rent included.

New York, NY and Maui, HI have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both New York, NY and Maui, HI sit above the global median – New York, NY by 230%, Maui, HI by 230%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.48 $29.48

$29.44 $29.44

0.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$112 $112

27.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.41 $12.41

$15.11 $15.11

-17.87%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$6.59 $6.59

-7.74%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$2.67 $2.67

24.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.73 $2.73

-1.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.17 $8.17

$7.78 $7.78

5.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.04 $12.04

$7.85 $7.85

53.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

$2.00 $2.00

-19.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.08 $5.08

$3.38 $3.38

50.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.12 $8.12

$8.57 $8.57

-5.25%

Eggs

$6.87 $6.87

$8.60 $8.60

-20.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$12.37 $12.37

42.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$15.41 $15.41

6.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.81 $19.81

$22.23 $22.23

-10.89%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 $7.66

$4.80 $4.80

59.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.23 $2.23

13.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$4.21 $4.21

33.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.57 $4.57

40.04%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.90 $2.90

32.41%

Onion (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.81 $2.81

45.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.06 $2.06

49.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$3.59 $3.59

-30.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.83 $18.83

$9.75 $9.75

93.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$19.83 $19.83

-0.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.68 $1.68

77.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.27 $3.27

14.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.41 $3.41

-13.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$101 $101

31.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.48 $3.48

45.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$0.94 $0.94

134.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.75 $42.75

$28.76 $28.76

48.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.24 $1.24

-21.77%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$37.4K $37.4K

-6.27%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$28.8K $28.8K

-1.70%

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

$182 $182

$396 $396

-54.01%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$61.3 $61.3

-1.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 $63.5

$73.1 $73.1

-13.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$30.33 $30.33

370.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 $63.6

Cinema Ticket

$19.89 $19.89

$14.97 $14.97

32.87%

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

$3,129 $3,129

$1,620 $1,620

93.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$58.2K $58.2K

$17.1K $17.1K

239.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$88.3 $88.3

-23.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$54.2 $54.2

-12.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$130 $130

-13.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$204 $204

-14.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,145 $4,145

$2,278 $2,278

81.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,585 $2,585

4.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,255 $8,255

$4,645 $4,645

77.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,298 $5,298

$3,817 $3,817

38.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.5K $18.5K

$2,694 $2,694

587.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,505 $6,505

$2,395 $2,395

171.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,520 $5,520

$5,740 $5,740

-3.83%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Maui, HI: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,145 in New York, NY versus $2,278 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. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $143 in New York, NY versus $112 in Maui, HI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $553 vs $501 – 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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,623 per month in New York, NY and $6,621 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $143 in New York, NY and $112 in Maui, HI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Public transport costs about 32% less in Maui, HI. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$5,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,415 in New York, NY and $4,414 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 $4,414 in Maui, HI to $4,415 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.