Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Meridian, MS Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Meridian, MS

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,437 per month in New York, NY vs $2,707 in Meridian, MS, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,995 per month in New York, NY vs $3,975 in Meridian, MS, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,552 per month in New York, NY vs $5,244 in Meridian, MS, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 64% more than Meridian, MS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Meridian, MS sit above the global median – New York, NY by 229%, Meridian, MS by 101%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.14 $30.14

$26.34 $26.34

14.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 $147

$123 $123

19.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.62 $12.62

$11.91 $11.91

5.96%

Cappuccino

$6.00 $6.00

$5.50 $5.50

9.09%

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

$3.35 $3.35

$2.02 $2.02

65.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.04 $2.04

26.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.18 $8.18

$5.92 $5.92

38.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.99 $11.99

$7.95 $7.95

50.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 $1.61

$0.88 $0.88

82.95%

White Bread (500g)

$5.03 $5.03

$4.09 $4.09

22.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.40 $8.40

$1.98 $1.98

324.24%

Eggs

$7.10 $7.10

$4.00 $4.00

77.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.38 $17.38

$14.93 $14.93

16.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.18 $16.18

$8.84 $8.84

83.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.48 $20.48

$14.94 $14.94

37.08%

Apples (1kg)

$7.36 $7.36

$2.94 $2.94

150.34%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.08 $1.08

137.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$2.77 $2.77

106.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.24 $6.24

$4.49 $4.49

38.98%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$1.97 $1.97

96.45%

Onion (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.26 $3.26

26.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.04 $2.04

48.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.08 $3.08

-17.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.07 $19.07

$6.91 $6.91

175.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.66 $19.66

$16.53 $16.53

18.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.04 $2.04

46.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.64 $3.64

3.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.03 $2.03

44.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.47 $3.47

46.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.47 $1.47

48.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.49 $41.49

$34.48 $34.48

20.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.72 $0.72

36.11%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$35.0K $35.0K

-1.51%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

-0.06%

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

$184 $184

$234 $234

-21.22%

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

$59.0 $59.0

$57.7 $57.7

2.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$70.0 $70.0

-11.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$42.45 $42.45

231.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

Cinema Ticket

$20.13 $20.13

$13.13 $13.13

53.31%

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

$3,191 $3,191

$594 $594

436.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.5K $57.5K

$10.1K $10.1K

468.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.2 $67.2

$53.7 $53.7

25.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.98 $47.98

$40.41 $40.41

18.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$76.0 $76.0

46.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$170 $170

$111 $111

52.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,207 $4,207

$1,618 $1,618

160.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,717 $2,717

$1,359 $1,359

99.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,382 $8,382

$2,636 $2,636

217.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,127 $5,127

$2,251 $2,251

127.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.5K $19.5K

$2,735 $2,735

614.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,862 $8,862

$2,407 $2,407

268.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,228 $5,228

$4,170 $4,170

25.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.57

-1.98%

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

Last update for New York, NY: April 11, 2026

Last update for Meridian, MS: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,207 in New York, NY versus $1,618 in Meridian, MS. 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 25% 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 $147 in New York, NY versus $123 in Meridian, MS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $553 vs $370 – making Meridian, MS 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 Meridian, MS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 64%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,655 per month in New York, NY and $4,060 in Meridian, MS. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Meridian, MS, 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 $147 in New York, NY and $123 in Meridian, MS. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 50% 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.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,437 in New York, NY and $2,707 in Meridian, MS. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Meridian, MS – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Meridian, MS. 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.