Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and North Charleston, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and North Charleston, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,438 per month in New York, NY vs $2,620 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,016 per month in New York, NY vs $3,840 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,593 per month in New York, NY vs $5,060 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 69% more than North Charleston, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and North Charleston, SC sit above the global median – New York, NY by 231%, North Charleston, SC by 95%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.91 $29.91

$18.18 $18.18

64.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 $144

$85.0 $85.0

69.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$9.90 $9.90

24.44%

Cappuccino

$6.03 $6.03

$6.21 $6.21

-2.90%

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

$3.39 $3.39

$2.52 $2.52

34.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.34 $2.34

9.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.20 $8.20

$5.86 $5.86

39.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.95 $11.95

$8.05 $8.05

48.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.95 $0.95

62.11%

White Bread (500g)

$5.15 $5.15

$4.13 $4.13

24.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.43 $8.43

$3.05 $3.05

176.39%

Eggs

$6.97 $6.97

$3.90 $3.90

78.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.28 $17.28

$13.70 $13.70

26.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$12.41 $12.41

30.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.95 $19.95

$15.11 $15.11

32.03%

Apples (1kg)

$7.45 $7.45

$6.74 $6.74

10.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.63 $1.63

48.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$4.55 $4.55

29.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$5.78 $5.78

9.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.82 $2.82

31.91%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$2.89 $2.89

38.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 $3.19

$1.96 $1.96

62.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.38 $2.38

7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.09 $19.09

$7.39 $7.39

158.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.24 $20.24

$15.27 $15.27

32.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.83 $1.83

63.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.65 $2.65

46.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.45 $3.45

-14.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

$30.77 $30.77

324.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 $5.13

$3.05 $3.05

68.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.51 $1.51

45.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.64 $42.64

$19.63 $19.63

117.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.84 $0.84

13.10%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$29.1K $29.1K

18.73%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$25.4K $25.4K

11.04%

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

$182 $182

$211 $211

-14.03%

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

$60.1 $60.1

$64.7 $64.7

-7.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$73.3 $73.3

-15.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$42.19 $42.19

231.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.4 $64.4

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$12.08 $12.08

68.29%

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

$3,222 $3,222

$763 $763

322.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.2K $56.2K

$14.5K $14.5K

288.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.9 $65.9

$60.7 $60.7

8.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$43.93 $43.93

7.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$95.1 $95.1

16.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$173 $173

$139 $139

24.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,208 $4,208

$1,903 $1,903

121.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,647 $2,647

$1,290 $1,290

105.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,415 $8,415

$1,965 $1,965

328.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,170 $5,170

$1,996 $1,996

158.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.1K $20.1K

$2,863 $2,863

601.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,742 $8,742

$2,815 $2,815

210.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,144 $5,144

$4,349 $4,349

18.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.49

-0.77%

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

Last update for New York, NY: April 20, 2026

Last update for North Charleston, SC: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,208 in New York, NY versus $1,903 in North Charleston, SC. 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 18% 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 $144 in New York, NY versus $85 in North Charleston, SC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $413 – making North Charleston, SC 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 Charleston, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 69% more than North Charleston, SC, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,657 per month in New York, NY and $3,930 in North Charleston, SC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $3,222 per month in New York, NY and $763 in North Charleston, SC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,438 in New York, NY and $2,620 in North Charleston, SC. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. North Charleston, SC costs $2,620 versus $4,438 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 North Charleston, SC. 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.