Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Saint John, New Brunswick

For one person, living is cheaper in Saint John, New Brunswick: $1,934 a month against $4,950 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $36,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,950
/mo nomad
Saint John, New Brunswick
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,934
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 John, New Brunswick actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,950 per month in New York, NY vs $1,934 in Saint John, New Brunswick, rent included.

  • New York, NY $4,950
  • Saint John, New Brunswick $1,934

A couple spends around $7,265 per month in New York, NY vs $2,885 in Saint John, New Brunswick, rent included.

  • New York, NY $7,265
  • Saint John, New Brunswick $2,885

A family of three spends $9,581 per month in New York, NY vs $3,836 in Saint John, New Brunswick, rent included.

  • New York, NY $9,581
  • Saint John, New Brunswick $3,836

New York, NY costs about 156% more than Saint John, New Brunswick, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both New York, NY and Saint John, New Brunswick sit above the global median – New York, NY by 267%, Saint John, New Brunswick by 43%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Saint John, New Brunswick
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.65 $24.65
$18.31 CA$25.89
34.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 $122
$59.0 CA$83.5
105.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.91 $13.91
$10.43 CA$14.75
33.37%
Cappuccino
$6.59 $6.59
$3.00 CA$4.25
119.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 $3.84
$1.69 CA$2.39
127.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.06 CA$1.50
170.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.79 $7.79
$4.43 CA$6.26
75.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.85 $9.85
$5.01 CA$7.08
96.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Saint John, New Brunswick
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 $1.38
$2.17 CA$3.07
-36.41%
White Bread (500g)
$4.68 $4.68
$2.67 CA$3.77
75.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.54 $7.54
$3.12 CA$4.41
141.67%
Eggs
$5.93 $5.93
$3.45 CA$4.88
71.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.83 $18.83
$13.17 CA$18.61
42.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.36 $17.36
$11.72 CA$16.56
48.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.51 $18.51
$12.78 CA$18.06
44.84%
Apples (1kg)
$6.74 $6.74
$4.79 CA$6.77
40.71%
Banana (1kg)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.47 CA$2.08
42.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.07 $6.07
$4.18 CA$5.91
45.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.74 $6.74
$3.90 CA$5.51
72.82%
Potato (1kg)
$4.05 $4.05
$2.00 CA$2.83
102.50%
Onion (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$2.20 CA$3.11
98.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.89 $2.89
$2.47 CA$3.49
17.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.60 $2.60
$1.41 CA$1.99
84.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.72 $18.72
$13.92 CA$19.67
34.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.06 $20.06
$9.90 CA$13.99
102.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$1.79 CA$2.53
81.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 $3.73
$2.12 CA$3.00
75.94%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Saint John, New Brunswick
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.06 $3.06
$2.06 CA$2.92
48.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$140 $140
$56.0 CA$79.2
150.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.92 CA$4.13
4.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.06 CA$1.50
102.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.82 $41.82
$17.34 CA$24.52
141.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.25 CA$1.76
-10.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K $35.5K
$24.3K CA$34.4K
45.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$18.8K CA$26.6K
38.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Saint John, New Brunswick
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$120 CA$169
83.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$73.2 $73.2
$41.55 CA$58.7
76.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.0 $72.0
$64.7 CA$91.4
11.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Saint John, New Brunswick
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$123 $123
$52.3 CA$73.9
134.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$67.7 $67.7
$35.03 CA$49.52
93.18%
Cinema Ticket
$22.85 $22.85
$12.78 CA$18.07
78.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Saint John, New Brunswick
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,333 $3,333
$378 CA$534
781.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$60.0K $60.0K
$11.1K CA$15.7K
439.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Saint John, New Brunswick
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.2 $75.2
$48.34 CA$68.3
55.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$35.16 CA$49.71
49.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 $122
$103 CA$145
18.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 $133
$106 CA$150
25.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Saint John, New Brunswick
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,389 $4,389
$990 CA$1,400
343.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,130 $3,130
$819 CA$1,158
282.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,918 $8,918
$1,610 CA$2,277
453.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,354 $5,354
$1,304 CA$1,843
310.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.4K $19.4K
$2,018 CA$2,854
861.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,806 $6,806
$2,093 CA$2,959
225.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Saint John, New Brunswick
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,343 $5,343
$2,402 CA$3,396
122.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
4.69
45.42%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 13, 2026

Last update for Saint John, New Brunswick: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3.1K
Saint John, New Brunswick
$819 73.8% $2.3K
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$545
Saint John, New Brunswick
$350 35.7% $195
Eating Out
New York, NY
$404
Saint John, New Brunswick
$257 36.3% $147
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$364
Saint John, New Brunswick
$226 38% $138
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$172
Saint John, New Brunswick
$131 23.6% $41
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$168
Saint John, New Brunswick
$78 53.8% $91
Getting Around
New York, NY
$167
Saint John, New Brunswick
$73 56.4% $94

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,389 in New York, NY versus $990 in Saint John, New Brunswick. 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 122% 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 $122 in New York, NY versus $59.0 in Saint John, New Brunswick. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $545 vs $350 – making Saint John, New Brunswick the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇨🇦 Saint John, New Brunswick
🕒 Local time
16:31 4:31 PM
17:31 5:31 PM
1 h ahead of New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
70,063
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New York, NY Saint John, New Brunswick 840 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • New York, NY
  • Saint John, New Brunswick

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 John, New Brunswick: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, New York, NY or Saint John, New Brunswick?
New York, NY costs about 156% more than Saint John, New Brunswick, 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 John, New Brunswick?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,424 per month in New York, NY and $2,901 in Saint John, New Brunswick. 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 John, New Brunswick?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Saint John, New Brunswick, 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 John, New Brunswick?
Kindergarten costs $3,333 per month in New York, NY and $378 in Saint John, New Brunswick. 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 John, New Brunswick?
Groceries cost about 56% 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 $2,000/month in New York, NY or in Saint John, New Brunswick?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Saint John, New Brunswick, where all-in costs run around $1,934, than in New York, NY at $4,950. In Saint John, New Brunswick 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 John, New Brunswick?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Saint John, New Brunswick costs $1,934 versus $4,950 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 John, New Brunswick?
If budget matters most, go with Saint John, New Brunswick. 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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