Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Plano, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Plano, TX: $2,657 a month against $4,906 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $27,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

234

Cost of Living Index in New York, NY
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New York, NY Living Index
128

Cost of Living Index in Plano, TX
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Plano, TX Living Index

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New York, NY

🇺🇸 United States

$4,906

/mo nomad

Plano, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,657

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Plano, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,906 per month in New York, NY vs $2,657 in Plano, TX, rent included.

New York, NY $4,906
Plano, TX $2,657

A couple spends around $7,273 per month in New York, NY vs $3,976 in Plano, TX, rent included.

New York, NY $7,273
Plano, TX $3,976

A family of three spends $9,641 per month in New York, NY vs $5,294 in Plano, TX, rent included.

New York, NY $9,641
Plano, TX $5,294

New York, NY costs about 85% more than Plano, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both New York, NY and Plano, TX sit above the global median – New York, NY by 263%, Plano, TX by 97%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.93 $26.93

$20.38 $20.38

32.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$117 $117

$75.6 $75.6

54.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.60 $14.60

$10.07 $10.07

44.99%

Cappuccino

$6.54 $6.54

$5.47 $5.47

19.56%

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

$3.86 $3.86

$3.24 $3.24

19.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.24 $2.24

31.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.08 $8.08

$6.69 $6.69

20.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.85 $9.85

$7.41 $7.41

32.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$0.96 $0.96

36.46%

White Bread (500g)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.15 $3.15

57.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.70 $7.70

$4.70 $4.70

63.83%

Eggs

$6.09 $6.09

$4.59 $4.59

32.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.55 $19.55

$13.28 $13.28

47.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.59 $17.59

$11.42 $11.42

54.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.26 $20.26

$18.78 $18.78

7.88%

Apples (1kg)

$6.99 $6.99

$4.71 $4.71

48.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.62 $1.62

36.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.72 $6.72

$2.74 $2.74

145.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.12 $7.12

$3.14 $3.14

126.75%

Potato (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$2.33 $2.33

97.85%

Onion (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$2.78 $2.78

71.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.93 $1.93

48.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.87 $2.87

-6.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.14 $19.14

$10.06 $10.06

90.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.63 $19.63

$15.95 $15.95

23.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.32 $3.32

$1.68 $1.68

97.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.36 $3.36

24.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.02 $3.02

$3.03 $3.03

-0.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$139 $139

$125 $125

11.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.93 $2.93

3.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.71 $1.71

28.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.33 $41.33

$15.21 $15.21

171.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.99 $0.99

14.14%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$26.7K $26.7K

29.25%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.6K $26.6K

-2.80%

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

$232 $232

$192 $192

20.76%

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

$71.0 $71.0

$46.16 $46.16

53.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.7 $67.7

$56.0 $56.0

20.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$115 $115

$37.38 $37.38

208.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$76.8 $76.8

$3.94 $3.94

1849.49%

Cinema Ticket

$22.41 $22.41

$14.96 $14.96

49.80%

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

$3,606 $3,606

$1,124 $1,124

220.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$68.7K $68.7K

$25.3K $25.3K

171.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.3 $79.3

$60.2 $60.2

31.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$38.13 $38.13

34.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 $121

$87.2 $87.2

38.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$140 $140

$68.4 $68.4

105.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,555 $4,555

$1,585 $1,585

187.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,040 $3,040

$1,311 $1,311

131.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,742 $9,742

$2,445 $2,445

298.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,331 $5,331

$2,319 $2,319

129.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$2,609 $2,609

598.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,685 $6,685

$2,314 $2,314

188.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,096 $5,096

$5,625 $5,625

-9.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.89

6.51

5.84%

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

Last update for New York, NY: November 1, 2026

Last update for Plano, TX: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

New York, NY

$3K 62%

Plano, TX

$1.3K 49.3% 56.9% $1.7K

Groceries & Markets

New York, NY

$567 11.6%

Plano, TX

$393 14.8% 30.7% $174

Eating Out

New York, NY

$425 8.7%

Plano, TX

$329 12.4% 22.6% $96

Monthly Utilities & Internet

New York, NY

$371 7.6%

Plano, TX

$295 11.1% 20.6% $77

Clothing & Footwear

New York, NY

$176 3.6%

Plano, TX

$114 4.3% 35.3% $62

Getting Around

New York, NY

$165 3.4%

Plano, TX

$148 5.6% 10.5% $17

Sport & Entertainment

New York, NY

$160 3.3%

Plano, TX

$67 2.5% 58% $93

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,555 in New York, NY versus $1,585 in Plano, TX. 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 10% higher in Plano, TX, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $117 in New York, NY versus $76 in Plano, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $567 vs $393 – making Plano, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 New York, NY

🇺🇸 Plano, TX

🕒 Local time

12:05 12:05 PM

11:05 11:05 AM

1 h behind New York, NY

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

8,804,190

288,253

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.897 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

New York, NY Plano, TX 2,170 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

New York, NY
Plano, TX

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 Plano, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 85% more than Plano, TX, 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,358 per month in New York, NY and $3,986 in Plano, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Plano, TX, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,585 there versus $4,555 in New York, NY.

Kindergarten costs $3,606 per month in New York, NY and $1,124 in Plano, TX. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 44% more in New York, NY, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,906 in New York, NY and $2,657 in Plano, TX. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Plano, TX – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

For expats, Plano, TX is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 46% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.