Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Princeton, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Princeton, NJ

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: New York, NY is 9.3% more expensive than Princeton, NJ without rent, and 17.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: New York, NY is 17.6% more expensive than Princeton, NJ without rent, and 35.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
New York, NY
Princeton, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$17.19 $17.19
72.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$79 $79
82.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$14.92 $14.92
-16.69%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.04 $5.04
15.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.44 $2.44
33.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.17 $2.17
18.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$7.79 $7.79
5.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$8.07 $8.07
46.96%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Princeton, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.1 $1.1
41.82%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$3.98 $3.98
31.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$8.69 $8.69
-6.67%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$4.27 $4.27
69.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$25.39 $25.39
-32.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$24.26 $24.26
-33.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$22.74 $22.74
-11.96%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$6.67 $6.67
12.29%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.59 $2.59
-1.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$5.39 $5.39
7.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$5.94 $5.94
9.76%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.8 $2.8
32.86%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$3.69 $3.69
5.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.48 $2.48
23.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.07 $3.07
-16.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$11.02 $11.02
74.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$19.32 $19.32
-7.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.7 $1.7
77.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$6.2 $6.2
-40.00%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
New York, NY
Princeton, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.14 $2.14
36.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
$203 $203
-33.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$5.9 $5.9
-13.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.41 $1.41
52.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$42.5 $42.5
-2.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$0.84 $0.84
13.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35K $35K
$30.1K $30.1K
16.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$26.6K $26.6K
4.29%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Princeton, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$183 $183
-2.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$51.1 $51.1
17.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$56 $56
13.92%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Princeton, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$172 $172
-18.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
$31.65 $31.65
101.90%
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$15.15 $15.15
31.35%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Princeton, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$1,867 $1,867
71.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$39.7K $39.7K
42.10%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Princeton, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$36.95 $36.95
77.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$23.63 $23.63
106.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$142 $142
-21.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$204 $204
-15.85%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Princeton, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$2,654 $2,654
56.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$1,905 $1,905
39.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$4,561 $4,561
84.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$3,108 $3,108
69.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$5,490 $5,490
184.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$3,533 $3,533
215.81%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Princeton, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$5,992 $5,992
-6.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.55
-1.68%

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 Princeton, NJ: October 28, 2025

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