Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and New Westminster

For one person, living is cheaper in New Westminster: $2,526 a month against $4,950 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $29,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,950
/mo nomad
New Westminster
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,526
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 New Westminster actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,950 per month in New York, NY vs $2,526 in New Westminster, rent included.

  • New York, NY $4,950
  • New Westminster $2,526

A couple spends around $7,265 per month in New York, NY vs $3,900 in New Westminster, rent included.

  • New York, NY $7,265
  • New Westminster $3,900

A family of three spends $9,581 per month in New York, NY vs $5,273 in New Westminster, rent included.

  • New York, NY $9,581
  • New Westminster $5,273

New York, NY costs about 96% more than New Westminster, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both New York, NY and New Westminster sit above the global median – New York, NY by 267%, New Westminster by 87%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
New Westminster
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.65 $24.65
$19.28 CA$27.40
27.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 $122
$49.65 CA$70.6
144.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.91 $13.91
$10.12 CA$14.39
37.45%
Cappuccino
$6.59 $6.59
$3.47 CA$4.93
89.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 $3.84
$1.85 CA$2.63
107.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.55 CA$2.20
85.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.79 $7.79
$5.77 CA$8.20
35.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.85 $9.85
$5.63 CA$8.00
74.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
New Westminster
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.76 CA$2.50
-21.59%
White Bread (500g)
$4.68 $4.68
$2.34 CA$3.32
100.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.54 $7.54
$3.45 CA$4.90
118.55%
Eggs
$5.93 $5.93
$3.01 CA$4.28
97.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.83 $18.83
$10.80 CA$15.35
74.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.36 $17.36
$15.33 CA$21.79
13.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.51 $18.51
$26.67 CA$37.91
-30.60%
Apples (1kg)
$6.74 $6.74
$3.77 CA$5.37
78.78%
Banana (1kg)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.48 CA$2.10
41.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.07 $6.07
$3.60 CA$5.11
68.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.74 $6.74
$3.66 CA$5.20
84.15%
Potato (1kg)
$4.05 $4.05
$2.33 CA$3.32
73.82%
Onion (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$2.21 CA$3.15
97.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.89 $2.89
$2.33 CA$3.31
24.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.60 $2.60
$1.80 CA$2.56
44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.72 $18.72
$15.33 CA$21.79
22.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.06 $20.06
$10.63 CA$15.11
88.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.02 CA$2.87
60.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 $3.73
$2.72 CA$3.86
37.13%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
New Westminster
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.06 $3.06
$2.52 CA$3.58
21.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$140 $140
$90.3 CA$128
55.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.05 CA$2.91
48.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.72 CA$2.44
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.82 $41.82
$22.76 CA$32.34
83.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.26 CA$1.79
-11.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K $35.5K
$23.9K CA$33.9K
48.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$19.0K CA$27.0K
37.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
New Westminster
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$139 CA$197
57.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$73.2 $73.2
$42.09 CA$59.8
73.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.0 $72.0
$63.0 CA$89.5
14.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
New Westminster
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$123 $123
$32.42 CA$46.08
278.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$67.7 $67.7
$17.27 CA$24.55
291.84%
Cinema Ticket
$22.85 $22.85
$11.94 CA$16.96
91.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
New Westminster
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,333 $3,333
$758 CA$1,078
339.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$60.0K $60.0K
$8,536 CA$12.1K
602.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
New Westminster
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.2 $75.2
$52.3 CA$74.3
43.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$41.77 CA$59.4
25.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 $122
$77.5 CA$110
56.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 $133
$96.6 CA$137
37.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
New Westminster
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,389 $4,389
$1,548 CA$2,200
183.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,130 $3,130
$1,319 CA$1,875
137.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,918 $8,918
$2,841 CA$4,038
213.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,354 $5,354
$2,620 CA$3,724
104.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.4K $19.4K
$4,810 CA$6,836
303.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,806 $6,806
$4,025 CA$5,721
69.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
New Westminster
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,343 $5,343
$2,989 CA$4,248
78.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
4.72
44.49%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 13, 2026

Last update for New Westminster: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3.1K
New Westminster
$1.3K 57.9% $1.8K
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$545
New Westminster
$396 27.4% $150
Eating Out
New York, NY
$404
New Westminster
$280 30.6% $124
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$364
New Westminster
$244 33.1% $120
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$172
New Westminster
$121 29.9% $51
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$168
New Westminster
$56 66.6% $112
Getting Around
New York, NY
$167
New Westminster
$111 33.3% $56

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,389 in New York, NY versus $1,548 in New Westminster. 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 79% 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 $122 in New York, NY versus $50.0 in New Westminster. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $545 vs $396 – making New Westminster the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇨🇦 New Westminster
🕒 Local time
23:21 11:21 PM
20:21 8:21 PM
3 h behind New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
58,000
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.893 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.704 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.628 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New York, NY New Westminster 3,880 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • New York, NY
  • New Westminster

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 New Westminster: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, New York, NY or New Westminster?
New York, NY costs about 96% more than New Westminster, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in New York, NY and in New Westminster?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,424 per month in New York, NY and $3,790 in New Westminster. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, New York, NY or New Westminster?
Rent is clearly cheaper in New Westminster, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in New York, NY and in New Westminster?
Kindergarten costs $3,333 per month in New York, NY and $758 in New Westminster. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in New York, NY or in New Westminster?
Groceries cost about 38% 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.
Can you live on $2,000/month in New York, NY or in New Westminster?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,950 in New York, NY and $2,526 in New Westminster. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, New York, NY or New Westminster?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. New Westminster costs $2,526 versus $4,950 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is New York, NY compared to New Westminster?
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.
Should I move to New York, NY or to New Westminster?
If budget matters most, go with New Westminster. 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.

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