Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and North Brunswick, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and North Brunswick, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,878 per month in New York, NY vs $2,543 in North Brunswick, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,262 per month in New York, NY vs $3,719 in North Brunswick, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,645 per month in New York, NY vs $4,895 in North Brunswick, NJ, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 92% more than North Brunswick, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both New York, NY and North Brunswick, NJ sit above the global median – New York, NY by 255%, North Brunswick, NJ by 85%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.20 $25.20

$20.14 $20.14

25.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 $150

$59.0 $59.0

154.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.98 $13.98

$12.06 $12.06

15.92%

Cappuccino

$6.39 $6.39

$3.08 $3.08

107.47%

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

$4.01 $4.01

$2.71 $2.71

47.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$1.17 $1.17

148.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 $8.01

$6.69 $6.69

19.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.94 $9.94

$6.11 $6.11

62.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.11 $1.11

19.82%

White Bread (500g)

$4.80 $4.80

$1.68 $1.68

185.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.81 $6.81

$5.70 $5.70

19.47%

Eggs

$5.67 $5.67

$4.60 $4.60

23.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.66 $16.66

$13.17 $13.17

26.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.82 $14.82

$16.65 $16.65

-10.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.90 $18.90

$15.92 $15.92

18.72%

Apples (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$3.81 $3.81

58.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.90 $1.90

13.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$4.35 $4.35

30.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$6.13 $6.13

-0.98%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.33 $3.33

4.80%

Onion (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$3.22 $3.22

28.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.36 $2.36

13.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.01 $2.01

27.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.04 $19.04

$14.15 $14.15

34.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.73 $19.73

$18.03 $18.03

9.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.52 $2.52

30.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 $3.97

$4.11 $4.11

-3.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.00 $2.00

49.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 $140

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.81 $2.81

4.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 $2.12

$3.67 $3.67

-42.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.24 $41.24

$49.71 $49.71

-17.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$0.96 $0.96

15.63%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$28.4K $28.4K

24.07%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.1K $26.1K

-3.59%

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

$218 $218

$125 $125

74.05%

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

$76.5 $76.5

$47.80 $47.80

60.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.0 $76.0

$56.9 $56.9

33.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$128 $128

$36.59 $36.59

249.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.2 $63.2

Cinema Ticket

$23.94 $23.94

$13.14 $13.14

82.19%

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

$3,313 $3,313

$1,431 $1,431

131.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$60.8K $60.8K

$23.2K $23.2K

162.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.0 $74.0

$53.5 $53.5

38.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.3 $56.3

$49.65 $49.65

13.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$119 $119

-2.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$132 $132

-1.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,391 $4,391

$1,819 $1,819

141.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,088 $3,088

$1,370 $1,370

125.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,291 $9,291

$2,408 $2,408

285.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,460 $5,460

$1,870 $1,870

191.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

$2,763 $2,763

598.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,723 $6,723

$2,228 $2,228

201.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,364 $5,364

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.58

-2.28%

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 North Brunswick, NJ: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,391 in New York, NY versus $1,819 in North Brunswick, NJ. 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 $59.0 in North Brunswick, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $512 vs $425 – making North Brunswick, NJ 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 North Brunswick, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 92% more than North Brunswick, NJ, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,317 per month in New York, NY and $3,814 in North Brunswick, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in North Brunswick, NJ, 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 $4,878 in New York, NY and $2,543 in North Brunswick, NJ. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,313 per month in New York, NY and $1,431 in North Brunswick, NJ. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,878 in New York, NY and $2,543 in North Brunswick, NJ. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. North Brunswick, NJ costs $2,543 versus $4,878 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 North Brunswick, NJ. 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.