Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Menlo Park, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Menlo Park, CA

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 27.1% more expensive than Menlo Park, CA without rent, and 21.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 56.7% more expensive than Menlo Park, CA without rent, and 0.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$30.12 $30.12
-1.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$89.6 $89.6
61.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$12.06 $12.06
3.07%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$4.75 $4.75
22.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.66 $2.66
22.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.37 $1.37
88.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$8.11 $8.11
1.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$7.95 $7.95
49.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.42 $1.42
9.86%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$4.81 $4.81
8.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$3.16 $3.16
156.65%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$6.82 $6.82
6.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$10.96 $10.96
55.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$11.24 $11.24
44.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$12.68 $12.68
57.89%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$4.75 $4.75
57.68%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.15 $2.15
18.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$4.28 $4.28
35.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$4.8 $4.8
35.83%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.93 $2.93
26.96%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$3.49 $3.49
11.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.2 $2.2
39.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.75 $2.75
-6.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$8.67 $8.67
121.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$11.93 $11.93
49.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.68 $1.68
79.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.36 $2.36
57.63%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$4.42 $4.42
-33.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$3.43 $3.43
49.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.95 $1.95
10.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$29.94 $29.94
38.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.29 $1.29
-26.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35K $35K
$23.9K $23.9K
46.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$26.1K $26.1K
5.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$245 $245
-27.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$39.63 $39.63
51.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$72.5 $72.5
-11.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$43.14 $43.14
226.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$15.23 $15.23
30.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$2,655 $2,655
20.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$37.2K $37.2K
51.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$55.3 $55.3
18.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$40.43 $40.43
20.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$90 $90
23.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$79.7 $79.7
115.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$3,224 $3,224
29.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$2,226 $2,226
19.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$6,146 $6,146
36.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$6,628 $6,628
-20.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$21.9K $21.9K
-28.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$16.4K $16.4K
-32.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$4,947 $4,947
13.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.55
-1.68%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

Last update for Menlo Park, CA: October 29, 2025

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