Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Medicine Hat

For one person, living is cheaper in Medicine Hat: $1,849 a month against $4,906 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $36,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New York, NY, United States
Medicine Hat, Canada
New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,906
/mo nomad
Medicine Hat
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,849
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New York, NY and in Medicine Hat

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in New York, NY and in Medicine Hat actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,906 per month in New York, NY vs $1,849 in Medicine Hat, rent included.

  • New York, NY $4,906
  • Medicine Hat $1,849

A couple spends around $7,273 per month in New York, NY vs $2,763 in Medicine Hat, rent included.

  • New York, NY $7,273
  • Medicine Hat $2,763

A family of three spends $9,641 per month in New York, NY vs $3,677 in Medicine Hat, rent included.

  • New York, NY $9,641
  • Medicine Hat $3,677

New York, NY costs about 165% more than Medicine Hat, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both New York, NY and Medicine Hat sit above the global median – New York, NY by 263%, Medicine Hat by 37%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Medicine Hat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.93 $26.93
$14.94 CA$21.00
80.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$117 $117
$69.3 CA$97.4
68.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.60 $14.60
$10.14 CA$14.26
43.98%
Cappuccino
$6.54 $6.54
$3.69 CA$5.18
77.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86 $3.86
$2.10 CA$2.95
83.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$1.76 CA$2.47
67.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.08 $8.08
$5.56 CA$7.82
45.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.85 $9.85
$3.75 CA$5.27
162.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Medicine Hat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$1.55 CA$2.18
-15.48%
White Bread (500g)
$4.97 $4.97
$1.76 CA$2.47
182.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.70 $7.70
$3.52 CA$4.95
118.75%
Eggs
$6.09 $6.09
$3.13 CA$4.40
94.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.55 $19.55
$9.74 CA$13.70
100.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.59 $17.59
$10.78 CA$15.17
63.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.26 $20.26
$13.13 CA$18.46
54.30%
Apples (1kg)
$6.99 $6.99
$3.19 CA$4.48
119.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.46 CA$2.05
51.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.72 $6.72
$3.03 CA$4.26
121.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.12 $7.12
$3.83 CA$5.39
85.90%
Potato (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$2.82 CA$3.96
63.48%
Onion (1kg)
$4.78 $4.78
$1.56 CA$2.20
206.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.63 CA$3.70
9.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.69 $2.69
$1.50 CA$2.12
79.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.14 $19.14
$11.32 CA$15.92
69.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.63 $19.63
$12.95 CA$18.22
51.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.32 $3.32
$2.49 CA$3.50
33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.06 CA$4.30
36.93%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Medicine Hat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.02 $3.02
$2.25 CA$3.17
34.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$139 $139
$50.1 CA$70.4
178.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.91 CA$4.10
4.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.34 CA$1.89
64.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.33 $41.33
$24.82 CA$34.90
66.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.04 CA$1.46
8.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K $34.5K
$24.9K CA$35.0K
38.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$20.0K CA$28.1K
29.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Medicine Hat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$232 $232
$186 CA$261
25.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$71.0 $71.0
$35.88 CA$50.5
97.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.7 $67.7
$48.80 CA$68.6
38.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Medicine Hat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$115 $115
$54.3 CA$76.4
112.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$76.8 $76.8
$35.64 CA$50.1
115.52%
Cinema Ticket
$22.41 $22.41
$14.43 CA$20.29
55.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Medicine Hat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,606 $3,606
$540 CA$759
568.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$68.7K $68.7K
$21.4K CA$30.1K
221.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Medicine Hat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.3 $79.3
$50.8 CA$71.5
55.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.4 $51.4
$27.25 CA$38.33
88.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 $121
$68.4 CA$96.2
77.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 $140
$66.7 CA$93.8
110.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Medicine Hat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,555 $4,555
$939 CA$1,320
385.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,040 $3,040
$763 CA$1,073
298.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$9,742 $9,742
$1,493 CA$2,099
552.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,331 $5,331
$1,245 CA$1,750
328.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$18.2K $18.2K
$1,326 CA$1,864
1274.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,685 $6,685
$1,949 CA$2,741
243.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Medicine Hat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,096 $5,096
$3,041 CA$4,277
67.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.89
4.43
55.53%

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

Last update for New York, NY: November 1, 2026

Last update for Medicine Hat: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3K
Medicine Hat
$763 74.9% $2.3K
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$567
Medicine Hat
$323 43.1% $244
Eating Out
New York, NY
$425
Medicine Hat
$245 42.4% $180
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$371
Medicine Hat
$271 27.1% $101
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$176
Medicine Hat
$96 45.7% $81
Getting Around
New York, NY
$165
Medicine Hat
$69 58.5% $97
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$160
Medicine Hat
$83 48.1% $77

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,555 in New York, NY versus $939 in Medicine Hat. 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 68% 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 $117 in New York, NY versus $69 in Medicine Hat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $567 vs $323 – making Medicine Hat the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇨🇦 Medicine Hat
🕒 Local time
10:33 10:33 AM
09:33 9:33 AM
1 h behind New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
56,997
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.711 USD). 1 EUR = 1.58 CAD (1 CAD = 0.633 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New York, NY Medicine Hat 3,000 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • New York, NY
  • Medicine Hat

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Medicine Hat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, New York, NY or Medicine Hat?
New York, NY costs about 165% more than Medicine Hat, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in New York, NY and in Medicine Hat?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,358 per month in New York, NY and $2,773 in Medicine Hat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, New York, NY or Medicine Hat?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medicine Hat, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $939 there versus $4,555 in New York, NY.
How much does it cost to live in New York, NY compared to Medicine Hat?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,906 in New York, NY and $1,849 in Medicine Hat. That makes Medicine Hat about 62% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in New York, NY compared to Medicine Hat?
Public transport costs about 64% less in Medicine Hat. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Medicine Hat – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to New York, NY or to Medicine Hat?
If budget matters most, go with Medicine Hat. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

New York, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?