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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,443 per month in New York, NY vs $2,676 in Ontario, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,945 per month in New York, NY vs $4,234 in Ontario, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,447 per month in New York, NY vs $5,792 in Ontario, CA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 66% more than Ontario, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Ontario, CA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 234%, Ontario, CA by 101%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.45 $30.45

$18.01 $18.01

69.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$146 $146

$79.2 $79.2

84.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.71 $12.71

$11.80 $11.80

7.71%

Cappuccino

$5.87 $5.87

$5.09 $5.09

15.32%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$2.81 $2.81

14.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.05 $2.05

32.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$6.80 $6.80

20.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.89 $11.89

$6.97 $6.97

70.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.06 $1.06

47.17%

White Bread (500g)

$5.01 $5.01

$4.13 $4.13

21.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.33 $8.33

$4.21 $4.21

97.86%

Eggs

$7.02 $7.02

$4.11 $4.11

70.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$10.79 $10.79

61.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.72 $16.72

$8.85 $8.85

88.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.01 $20.01

$14.25 $14.25

40.42%

Apples (1kg)

$7.72 $7.72

$3.40 $3.40

127.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.71 $1.71

44.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$4.03 $4.03

41.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$5.72 $5.72

12.24%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.15 $3.15

19.05%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.93 $2.93

33.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.40 $1.40

117.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.13 $2.13

20.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.84 $18.84

$10.88 $10.88

73.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$16.27 $16.27

20.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.01 $2.01

49.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.43 $3.43

13.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.97 $1.97

46.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$6.65 $6.65

-23.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$4.47 $4.47

-50.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.93 $41.93

$28.71 $28.71

46.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.27 $1.27

-22.83%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$25.2K $25.2K

40.46%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$28.7K $28.7K

-4.32%

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

$184 $184

$253 $253

-27.13%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$46.87 $46.87

27.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 $62.4

$59.2 $59.2

5.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$100.0 $100.0

39.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.0 $65.0

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$14.14 $14.14

43.78%

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

$3,153 $3,153

$1,223 $1,223

157.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.8K $56.8K

$23.3K $23.3K

144.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$47.57 $47.57

42.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.89 $47.89

$33.33 $33.33

43.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$84.0 $84.0

37.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$83.7 $83.7

107.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,125 $4,125

$1,908 $1,908

116.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,685 $2,685

$1,357 $1,357

97.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,262 $8,262

$2,854 $2,854

189.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,258 $5,258

$2,911 $2,911

80.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

$4,042 $4,042

362.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$3,696 $3,696

74.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,584 $5,584

$3,544 $3,544

57.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.58

-2.13%

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

Last update for New York, NY: July 25, 2026

Last update for Ontario, CA: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,125 in New York, NY versus $1,908 in Ontario, CA. 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 58% 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 $146 in New York, NY versus $79.0 in Ontario, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $555 vs $372 – making Ontario, 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 Ontario, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 66% more than Ontario, CA, 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 $6,664 per month in New York, NY and $4,015 in Ontario, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ontario, CA, 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 $4,443 in New York, NY and $2,676 in Ontario, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,153 per month in New York, NY and $1,223 in Ontario, CA. 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 $4,443 in New York, NY and $2,676 in Ontario, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ontario, CA costs $2,676 versus $4,443 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 Ontario, 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.