Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Saint Andrews

For one person, living is cheaper in Saint Andrews: $2,255 a month against $5,142 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $34,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$5,142
/mo nomad
Saint Andrews
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,255
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New York, NY and in Saint Andrews

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 Saint Andrews actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $5,142 per month in New York, NY vs $2,255 in Saint Andrews, rent included.

  • New York, NY $5,142
  • Saint Andrews $2,255

A couple spends around $7,455 per month in New York, NY vs $3,245 in Saint Andrews, rent included.

  • New York, NY $7,455
  • Saint Andrews $3,245

A family of three spends $9,767 per month in New York, NY vs $4,234 in Saint Andrews, rent included.

  • New York, NY $9,767
  • Saint Andrews $4,234

New York, NY costs about 128% more than Saint Andrews, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both New York, NY and Saint Andrews sit above the global median – New York, NY by 284%, Saint Andrews by 68%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Saint Andrews
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.46 $26.46
$17.75 CA$25.30
49.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119 $119
$63.8 CA$91.0
86.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.43 $14.43
$10.59 CA$15.10
36.26%
Cappuccino
$6.55 $6.55
$3.72 CA$5.30
76.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 $3.84
$1.99 CA$2.83
92.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 $3.00
$1.58 CA$2.25
89.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.27 $8.27
$5.17 CA$7.38
59.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.05 $10.05
$5.77 CA$8.22
74.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Saint Andrews
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$2.04 CA$2.91
-35.78%
White Bread (500g)
$4.90 $4.90
$2.46 CA$3.51
99.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.16 $7.16
$3.36 CA$4.79
113.10%
Eggs
$5.92 $5.92
$3.47 CA$4.94
70.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.06 $19.06
$9.72 CA$13.86
96.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.38 $17.38
$11.12 CA$15.85
56.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.94 $18.94
$14.72 CA$20.98
28.67%
Apples (1kg)
$6.96 $6.96
$3.66 CA$5.22
90.16%
Banana (1kg)
$2.08 $2.08
$1.36 CA$1.93
52.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.10 $6.10
$3.70 CA$5.28
64.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.95 $6.95
$3.73 CA$5.31
86.33%
Potato (1kg)
$3.98 $3.98
$2.59 CA$3.70
53.67%
Onion (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$2.25 CA$3.21
97.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.53 CA$3.61
11.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.57 CA$2.24
59.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.27 $19.27
$13.96 CA$19.90
38.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.67 $19.67
$12.42 CA$17.70
58.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.73 CA$3.89
12.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 $3.68
$3.13 CA$4.46
17.57%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Saint Andrews
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.02 $3.02
$2.31 CA$3.29
30.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$140 $140
$63.1 CA$90.0
121.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.82 CA$4.02
8.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 $2.13
$1.49 CA$2.12
42.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.21 $41.21
$23.25 CA$33.14
77.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.11 CA$1.59
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K $35.0K
$28.2K CA$40.1K
24.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$18.9K CA$26.9K
34.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Saint Andrews
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 $217
$138 CA$197
57.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$74.0 $74.0
$38.11 CA$54.3
94.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.5 $72.5
$55.0 CA$78.4
31.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Saint Andrews
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$120 $120
$40.69 CA$58.0
196.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$66.9 $66.9
$18.31 CA$26.10
265.32%
Cinema Ticket
$22.32 $22.32
$10.95 CA$15.61
103.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Saint Andrews
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,425 $3,425
$724 CA$1,033
372.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$61.2K $61.2K
$13.3K CA$18.9K
360.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Saint Andrews
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.3 $76.3
$54.2 CA$77.2
40.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.5 $55.5
$37.35 CA$53.2
48.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 $119
$84.5 CA$120
41.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 $131
$99.9 CA$142
30.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Saint Andrews
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,506 $4,506
$1,239 CA$1,766
263.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,155 $3,155
$1,151 CA$1,640
174.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,817 $8,817
$1,984 CA$2,829
344.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,532 $5,532
$1,678 CA$2,392
229.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.4K $19.4K
$4,169 CA$5,942
365.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,754 $6,754
$3,576 CA$5,097
88.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Saint Andrews
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,290 $5,290
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
4.64
46.98%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 3, 2026

Last update for Saint Andrews: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3.2K
Saint Andrews
$1.2K 63.5% $2K
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$546
Saint Andrews
$347 36.4% $199
Eating Out
New York, NY
$422
Saint Andrews
$270 36.1% $152
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$364
Saint Andrews
$231 36.5% $133
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$172
Saint Andrews
$124 27.7% $48
Getting Around
New York, NY
$165
Saint Andrews
$83 50% $83
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$165
Saint Andrews
$63 62.1% $102

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,506 in New York, NY versus $1,239 in Saint Andrews. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $119 in New York, NY versus $64.0 in Saint Andrews. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $546 vs $347 – making Saint Andrews the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇨🇦 Saint Andrews
🕒 Local time
05:50 5:50 AM
06:50 6:50 AM
1 h ahead of New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New York, NY Saint Andrews 760 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • New York, NY
  • Saint Andrews

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 Saint Andrews: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, New York, NY or Saint Andrews?
New York, NY costs about 128% more than Saint Andrews, 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in New York, NY and in Saint Andrews?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,714 per month in New York, NY and $3,383 in Saint Andrews. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, New York, NY or Saint Andrews?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Saint Andrews, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in New York, NY and in Saint Andrews?
Kindergarten costs $3,425 per month in New York, NY and $724 in Saint Andrews. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in New York, NY or in Saint Andrews?
Groceries cost about 57% 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.
Can you live on $3,000/month in New York, NY or in Saint Andrews?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Saint Andrews, where all-in costs run around $2,255, than in New York, NY at $5,142. In Saint Andrews it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, New York, NY or Saint Andrews?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Saint Andrews costs $2,255 versus $5,142 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to New York, NY or to Saint Andrews?
If budget matters most, go with Saint Andrews. 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.

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