Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Provo, UT Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Provo, UT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,878 per month in New York, NY vs $2,286 in Provo, UT, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,262 per month in New York, NY vs $3,373 in Provo, UT, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,645 per month in New York, NY vs $4,460 in Provo, UT, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 113% more than Provo, UT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Provo, UT sit above the global median – New York, NY by 255%, Provo, UT by 66%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.20 $25.20

$18.77 $18.77

34.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 $150

$78.6 $78.6

91.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.98 $13.98

$10.18 $10.18

37.33%

Cappuccino

$6.39 $6.39

$5.48 $5.48

16.61%

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

$4.01 $4.01

$1.95 $1.95

105.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$1.86 $1.86

56.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 $8.01

$5.04 $5.04

58.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.94 $9.94

$8.17 $8.17

21.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$0.99 $0.99

34.34%

White Bread (500g)

$4.80 $4.80

$3.31 $3.31

45.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.81 $6.81

$3.28 $3.28

107.62%

Eggs

$5.67 $5.67

$4.10 $4.10

38.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.66 $16.66

$8.25 $8.25

101.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.82 $14.82

$5.75 $5.75

157.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.90 $18.90

$11.11 $11.11

70.12%

Apples (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$4.08 $4.08

47.79%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.47 $1.47

46.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$2.70 $2.70

110.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$2.89 $2.89

110.03%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.16 $3.16

10.44%

Onion (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$1.89 $1.89

119.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.78 $1.78

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.77 $2.77

-7.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.04 $19.04

$10.59 $10.59

79.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.73 $19.73

$16.62 $16.62

18.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.95 $2.95

11.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 $3.97

$2.96 $2.96

34.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.99 $2.99

$3.06 $3.06

-2.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 $140

$86.1 $86.1

63.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.52 $3.52

-16.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 $2.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.24 $41.24

$13.45 $13.45

206.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.02 $1.02

8.82%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$32.9K $32.9K

6.84%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$25.9K $25.9K

-2.97%

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

$218 $218

$128 $128

70.65%

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

$76.5 $76.5

$44.83 $44.83

70.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.0 $76.0

$64.0 $64.0

18.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$128 $128

$22.25 $22.25

474.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.2 $63.2

$19.81 $19.81

219.08%

Cinema Ticket

$23.94 $23.94

$10.97 $10.97

118.23%

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

$3,313 $3,313

$926 $926

257.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$60.8K $60.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.0 $74.0

$47.67 $47.67

55.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.3 $56.3

$55.3 $55.3

1.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$64.5 $64.5

80.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$81.1 $81.1

60.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,391 $4,391

$1,389 $1,389

216.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,088 $3,088

$1,144 $1,144

169.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,291 $9,291

$1,856 $1,856

400.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,460 $5,460

$1,893 $1,893

188.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

$2,391 $2,391

706.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,723 $6,723

$2,370 $2,370

183.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,364 $5,364

$3,448 $3,448

55.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

7.17%

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

Last update for New York, NY: August 29, 2026

Last update for Provo, UT: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,391 in New York, NY versus $1,389 in Provo, UT. 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 56% 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 $150 in New York, NY versus $79.0 in Provo, UT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $512 vs $321 – making Provo, UT 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 Provo, UT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 113% more than Provo, UT, 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 $7,317 per month in New York, NY and $3,429 in Provo, UT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $3,313 per month in New York, NY and $926 in Provo, UT. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 59% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Provo, UT, where all-in costs run around $2,286, than in New York, NY at $4,878. In Provo, UT it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Provo, UT costs $2,286 versus $4,878 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Provo, UT. 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.