Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Salinas, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Salinas, CA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: New York, NY is 33.8% more expensive than Salinas, CA without rent, and 17.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: New York, NY is 37.6% more expensive than Salinas, CA without rent, and 35.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
New York, NY
Salinas, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$29.69 $29.69
-0.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$89.1 $89.1
61.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$12.04 $12.04
3.24%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$4.9 $4.9
19.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.66 $2.66
22.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.14 $2.14
20.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$7.86 $7.86
4.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$7.84 $7.84
51.28%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Salinas, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.46 $1.46
6.85%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$3.55 $3.55
47.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$6.36 $6.36
27.52%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$5.55 $5.55
30.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$21 $21
-18.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$13.16 $13.16
23.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$16.74 $16.74
19.59%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$6 $6
24.83%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.16 $2.16
18.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$3.57 $3.57
63.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$6.06 $6.06
7.59%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$4.47 $4.47
-16.78%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$3.39 $3.39
15.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.17 $2.17
41.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.87 $1.87
37.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$11.09 $11.09
73.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$10.18 $10.18
74.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.68 $1.68
79.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$5.34 $5.34
-30.34%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
New York, NY
Salinas, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.95 $1.95
49.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
$68.8 $68.8
94.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$3.45 $3.45
48.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.88 $1.88
14.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$40.24 $40.24
3.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.31 $1.31
-27.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35K $35K
$24.2K $24.2K
44.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$26.3K $26.3K
5.36%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Salinas, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$277 $277
-35.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$53.1 $53.1
12.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$72.6 $72.6
-12.03%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Salinas, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$39.6 $39.6
255.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$14.31 $14.31
39.06%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Salinas, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$1,968 $1,968
62.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$38.3K $38.3K
47.35%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Salinas, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$56.1 $56.1
17.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$37.8 $37.8
28.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$92.3 $92.3
20.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$126 $126
36.09%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Salinas, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$2,200 $2,200
89.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$2,164 $2,164
22.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$4,186 $4,186
100.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$3,806 $3,806
38.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$2,778 $2,778
462.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$2,415 $2,415
362.07%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Salinas, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$4,905 $4,905
14.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.41
0.47%

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 Salinas, CA: October 28, 2025

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