Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Modesto, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Modesto, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,503 per month in New York, NY vs $2,650 in Modesto, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,077 per month in New York, NY vs $4,106 in Modesto, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,650 per month in New York, NY vs $5,561 in Modesto, CA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 70% more than Modesto, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both New York, NY and Modesto, CA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 236%, Modesto, CA by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$15.10 $15.10

100.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$80.4 $80.4

77.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$8.84 $8.84

43.10%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$5.66 $5.66

2.65%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.68 $2.68

21.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.66 $1.66

55.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$5.02 $5.02

63.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$7.20 $7.20

64.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.12 $1.12

36.61%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$3.60 $3.60

46.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$3.15 $3.15

164.76%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$4.99 $4.99

45.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$12.86 $12.86

34.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$14.62 $14.62

10.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$19.50 $19.50

1.64%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$6.27 $6.27

20.73%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.52 $2.52

-3.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$4.97 $4.97

17.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$6.52 $6.52

-1.99%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.57 $3.57

8.40%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.26 $4.26

-4.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$3.03 $3.03

2.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.81 $2.81

-12.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$10.12 $10.12

90.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$15.26 $15.26

30.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.91 $1.91

56.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.42 $3.42

9.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.03 $2.03

39.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$40.22 $40.22

233.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.56 $3.56

43.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.08 $2.08

1.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$30.40 $30.40

39.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.25 $1.25

-22.40%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$27.3K $27.3K

26.97%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$26.6K $26.6K

4.36%

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

$181 $181

$287 $287

-36.90%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$49.26 $49.26

22.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$63.0 $63.0

-0.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$41.92 $41.92

241.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

$14.95 $14.95

336.52%

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$11.07 $11.07

80.49%

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

$3,216 $3,216

$1,952 $1,952

64.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$25.9K $25.9K

121.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$47.56 $47.56

41.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$39.84 $39.84

19.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$89.1 $89.1

24.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$129 $129

30.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$1,429 $1,429

186.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$1,261 $1,261

113.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$2,426 $2,426

248.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$2,401 $2,401

113.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$3,192 $3,192

469.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

$3,184 $3,184

97.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

$4,035 $4,035

37.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.51

-1.08%

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 Modesto, CA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,092 in New York, NY versus $1,429 in Modesto, CA. 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 37% 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 $142 in New York, NY versus $80.0 in Modesto, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $461 – making Modesto, CA 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 Modesto, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 70% more than Modesto, CA, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,754 per month in New York, NY and $3,975 in Modesto, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Modesto, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,503 in New York, NY and $2,650 in Modesto, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 234% less in Modesto, CA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,503 in New York, NY and $2,650 in Modesto, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Modesto, CA costs $2,650 versus $4,503 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Modesto, CA. 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.