Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Montes Claros

For one person, living is cheaper in Montes Claros: $844 a month against $4,938 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $49,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,938
/mo nomad
Montes Claros
🇧🇷 Brazil
$844
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New York, NY and in Montes Claros

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 Montes Claros actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,938 in New York, NY versus $844 in Montes Claros.

  • New York, NY $4,938
  • Montes Claros $844

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,273 in New York, NY versus $1,344 in Montes Claros.

  • New York, NY $7,273
  • Montes Claros $1,344

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,608 in New York, NY versus $1,843 in Montes Claros.

  • New York, NY $9,608
  • Montes Claros $1,843

Living in New York, NY is roughly 485% more expensive than in Montes Claros, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: New York, NY is 264% above, Montes Claros is 38% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Montes Claros
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.99 $24.99
$3.40 R$17.22
635.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120 $120
$32.15 R$163
274.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.74 $13.74
$7.91 R$40.08
73.70%
Cappuccino
$6.60 $6.60
$2.05 R$10.41
221.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 $3.82
$1.33 R$6.72
187.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$0.79 R$4.03
263.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.95 $7.95
$1.48 R$7.51
437.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.06 $10.06
$3.02 R$15.33
233.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Montes Claros
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.05 R$5.33
30.48%
White Bread (500g)
$4.75 $4.75
$1.64 R$8.33
189.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.69 $7.69
$1.20 R$6.11
540.83%
Eggs
$5.87 $5.87
$2.11 R$10.72
178.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.25 $19.25
$8.75 R$44.36
120.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.83 $17.83
$4.39 R$22.24
306.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.03 $19.03
$8.31 R$42.13
129.00%
Apples (1kg)
$6.69 $6.69
$2.30 R$11.65
190.87%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 $2.29
$1.27 R$6.46
80.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.41 $6.41
$1.26 R$6.41
408.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.75 $6.75
$1.55 R$7.87
335.48%
Potato (1kg)
$3.93 $3.93
$1.17 R$5.92
235.90%
Onion (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$1.03 R$5.21
338.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.79 $2.79
$0.84 R$4.25
232.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$0.80 R$4.07
213.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.10 $18.10
$2.31 R$11.69
683.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.16 $20.16
$8.04 R$40.76
150.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$1.26 R$6.41
158.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.97 R$10.00
90.36%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Montes Claros
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$0.76 R$3.85
284.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$143 $143
$38.30 R$194
272.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.06 $3.06
$1.34 R$6.81
128.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.16 $2.16
$0.86 R$4.34
151.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.33 $41.33
$6.97 R$35.35
492.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.03 R$5.23
8.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K $33.1K
$25.8K R$131.0K
28.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$30.9K R$156.4K
-16.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Montes Claros
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$78.3 R$397
180.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$75.3 $75.3
$13.80 R$70.0
445.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.5 $70.5
$19.30 R$97.9
265.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Montes Claros
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$116 $116
$25.26 R$128
357.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$67.6 $67.6
$24.74 R$125
173.32%
Cinema Ticket
$21.37 $21.37
$7.71 R$39.11
177.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Montes Claros
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,432 $3,432
$242 R$1,225
1320.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$61.7K $61.7K
$7,287 R$36.9K
746.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Montes Claros
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 $74.9
$55.9 R$283
33.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.1 $52.1
$50.4 R$255
3.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 $117
$90.5 R$459
28.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 $135
$69.5 R$352
93.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Montes Claros
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,347 $4,347
$354 R$1,793
1128.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,117 $3,117
$238 R$1,205
1211.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$9,110 $9,110
$655 R$3,323
1290.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,379 $5,379
$466 R$2,363
1053.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.3K $19.3K
$1,599 R$8,106
1105.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,943 $6,943
$1,006 R$5,100
590.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Montes Claros
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,238 $5,238
$414 R$2,097
1166.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.85
11
-37.73%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 17, 2026

Last update for Montes Claros: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3.1K
Montes Claros
$238 92.4% $2.9K
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$552
Montes Claros
$190 65.6% $362
Eating Out
New York, NY
$407
Montes Claros
$97 76% $309
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$365
Montes Claros
$111 69.5% $254
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$170
Montes Claros
$120 29.6% $50
Getting Around
New York, NY
$168
Montes Claros
$47 72.1% $121
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$158
Montes Claros
$41 74.3% $118

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,347 in New York, NY and $354 in Montes Claros. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 1166% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $120 in New York, NY vs $32.00 in Montes Claros for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $190 per month, with Montes Claros cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇧🇷 Montes Claros
🕒 Local time
16:57 4:57 PM
17:57 5:57 PM
1 h ahead of New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
414,240
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New York, NY Montes Claros 7,110 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • New York, NY
  • Montes Claros

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 Montes Claros: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in New York, NY and in Montes Claros?
New York, NY and Montes Claros differ by about 485% in total monthly costs ($4,938 vs $844 including rent). Montes Claros is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: New York, NY or Montes Claros?
Average pay runs 1166% higher in New York, NY, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in New York, NY and in Montes Claros?
Rent for a central apartment: $4,347 in New York, NY versus $354 in Montes Claros. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in New York, NY and in Montes Claros?
A monthly transit pass in Montes Claros runs roughly 272% less than in New York, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between New York, NY and Montes Claros?
Childcare runs $3,432 in New York, NY versus $242 in Montes Claros. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $844 in Montes Claros versus $4,938 in New York, NY, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montes Claros but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Montes Claros the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between New York, NY and Montes Claros?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: New York, NY or Montes Claros?
Expats usually find Montes Claros gentler on the wallet – expenses run 485% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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