Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Raleigh, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Raleigh, NC

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: New York, NY is 43.8% more expensive than Raleigh, NC without rent, and 51.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: New York, NY is 47.3% more expensive than Raleigh, NC without rent, and 78.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
New York, NY
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$19.86 $19.86
49.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$74.2 $74.2
94.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$10.11 $10.11
22.95%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.37 $5.37
8.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.36 $2.36
38.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.05 $2.05
25.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$5.74 $5.74
43.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$6.13 $6.13
93.47%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$0.85 $0.85
83.53%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$4.01 $4.01
30.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$3.18 $3.18
155.03%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$4.76 $4.76
52.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$13.63 $13.63
25.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$11.46 $11.46
41.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$16.81 $16.81
19.10%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$6.72 $6.72
11.46%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.47 $1.47
73.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$5.77 $5.77
0.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$6.31 $6.31
3.33%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.67 $3.67
1.36%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$4.21 $4.21
-7.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.2 $2.2
39.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.26 $2.26
13.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$7.42 $7.42
158.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$14.77 $14.77
20.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.03 $2.03
48.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.01 $3.01
23.59%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
New York, NY
Raleigh, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.03 $2.03
43.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
$45.36 $45.36
195.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$2.44 $2.44
110.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.74 $1.74
23.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$14.73 $14.73
182.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$0.8 $0.8
18.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35K $35K
$29.8K $29.8K
17.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$26.3K $26.3K
5.25%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$185 $185
-3.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$63.9 $63.9
-6.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$70.2 $70.2
-9.06%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$40.69 $40.69
245.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
$34.1 $34.1
87.39%
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$15.2 $15.2
30.92%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$1,492 $1,492
114.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$24.5K $24.5K
130.43%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$51.8 $51.8
26.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$48.69 $48.69
0.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$98.6 $98.6
12.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$142 $142
20.64%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Raleigh, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$1,828 $1,828
127.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$1,539 $1,539
72.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$2,992 $2,992
181.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$2,400 $2,400
119.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$3,093 $3,093
405.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$2,505 $2,505
345.34%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$4,392 $4,392
27.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.53
-1.38%

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 Raleigh, NC: October 29, 2025

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