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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,878 per month in New York, NY vs $2,728 in Monrovia, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,262 per month in New York, NY vs $4,129 in Monrovia, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,645 per month in New York, NY vs $5,531 in Monrovia, CA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 79% more than Monrovia, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both New York, NY and Monrovia, CA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 255%, Monrovia, CA by 99%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.20 $25.20

$24.96 $24.96

0.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 $150

$102 $102

47.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.98 $13.98

$11.45 $11.45

22.10%

Cappuccino

$6.39 $6.39

$5.74 $5.74

11.32%

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

$4.01 $4.01

$2.69 $2.69

49.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.04 $2.04

42.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 $8.01

$8.05 $8.05

-0.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.94 $9.94

$9.07 $9.07

9.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.16 $1.16

14.66%

White Bread (500g)

$4.80 $4.80

$5.74 $5.74

-16.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.81 $6.81

$4.31 $4.31

58.00%

Eggs

$5.67 $5.67

$4.96 $4.96

14.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.66 $16.66

$12.29 $12.29

35.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.82 $14.82

$21.05 $21.05

-29.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.90 $18.90

$13.78 $13.78

37.16%

Apples (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$5.39 $5.39

11.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.80 $1.80

20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$4.18 $4.18

35.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$6.63 $6.63

-8.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.53 $3.53

-1.13%

Onion (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$3.58 $3.58

15.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.29 $2.29

16.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.31 $2.31

10.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.04 $19.04

$11.65 $11.65

63.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.73 $19.73

$15.25 $15.25

29.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.30 $3.30

$1.68 $1.68

96.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.22 $3.22

23.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.93 $1.93

54.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 $140

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$4.54 $4.54

-35.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.83 $1.83

15.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.24 $41.24

$35.46 $35.46

16.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.46 $1.46

-23.97%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$36.7K $36.7K

-4.03%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

-1.97%

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

$218 $218

$213 $213

2.57%

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

$76.5 $76.5

$72.2 $72.2

6.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.0 $76.0

$68.9 $68.9

10.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$128 $128

$39.76 $39.76

221.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.2 $63.2

Cinema Ticket

$23.94 $23.94

$11.90 $11.90

101.18%

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

$3,313 $3,313

$1,954 $1,954

69.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$60.8K $60.8K

$42.3K $42.3K

43.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.0 $74.0

$73.3 $73.3

0.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.3 $56.3

$41.37 $41.37

36.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$80.9 $80.9

43.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$171 $171

-23.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,391 $4,391

$1,585 $1,585

176.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,088 $3,088

$1,253 $1,253

146.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,291 $9,291

$2,500 $2,500

271.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,460 $5,460

$2,397 $2,397

127.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

$2,876 $2,876

570.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,723 $6,723

$2,223 $2,223

202.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,364 $5,364

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.08

5.76%

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

Last update for New York, NY: August 29, 2026

Last update for Monrovia, CA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,391 in New York, NY versus $1,585 in Monrovia, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $150 in New York, NY versus $102 in Monrovia, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $512 vs $477 – making Monrovia, 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 Monrovia, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,878 in New York, NY, $2,728 in Monrovia, CA – roughly 79% apart. New York, NY costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,317 per month in New York, NY and $4,092 in Monrovia, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Monrovia, CA, 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 $150 in New York, NY and $102 in Monrovia, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% 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.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,878 in New York, NY and $2,728 in Monrovia, CA. 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 $2,728 in Monrovia, CA to $4,878 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 Monrovia, 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.