Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Palo Alto, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Palo Alto, CA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: New York, NY is 2.1% more expensive than Palo Alto, CA without rent, and 9% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: New York, NY is 2.6% more expensive than Palo Alto, CA without rent, and 1.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
New York, NY
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$24.92 $24.92
19.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$111 $111
29.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$11.34 $11.34
9.61%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.74 $5.74
1.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$3.24 $3.24
0.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.54 $2.54
1.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$8.14 $8.14
1.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$10.03 $10.03
18.25%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.47 $1.47
6.12%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$4.99 $4.99
4.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$3.19 $3.19
154.23%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$6.16 $6.16
17.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$21.55 $21.55
-20.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$14.78 $14.78
9.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$22.82 $22.82
-12.27%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$6.95 $6.95
7.77%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.56 $2.56
-0.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$4.84 $4.84
20.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$6.75 $6.75
-3.41%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.89 $3.89
-4.37%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$4.37 $4.37
-10.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.9 $2.9
5.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.86 $2.86
-10.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$11.11 $11.11
72.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$18.33 $18.33
-2.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.27 $2.27
32.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.35 $3.35
11.04%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
New York, NY
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.55 $2.55
14.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
$89.6 $89.6
49.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$4.11 $4.11
24.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.89 $1.89
13.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$30.51 $30.51
36.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.27 $1.27
-25.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35K $35K
$29.7K $29.7K
18.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$26.6K $26.6K
4.18%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$225 $225
-20.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$47.97 $47.97
25.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$68.6 $68.6
-6.95%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$120 $120
16.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
$19.88 $19.88
221.43%
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$15.78 $15.78
26.11%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$2,710 $2,710
18.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$45.7K $45.7K
23.71%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$53.2 $53.2
23.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$44.76 $44.76
8.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$89.3 $89.3
24.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$135 $135
26.78%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$3,473 $3,473
19.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$3,227 $3,227
-17.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$5,889 $5,889
42.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$5,757 $5,757
-8.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$2,539 $2,539
515.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$2,123 $2,123
425.59%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$10K $10K
-43.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.51
-1.08%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

Last update for Palo Alto, CA: October 28, 2025

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