Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Salt Lake City, UT Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Salt Lake City, UT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,415 per month in New York, NY vs $2,670 in Salt Lake City, UT, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,980 per month in New York, NY vs $3,862 in Salt Lake City, UT, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,544 per month in New York, NY vs $5,055 in Salt Lake City, UT, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 65% more than Salt Lake City, UT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Salt Lake City, UT sit above the global median – New York, NY by 230%, Salt Lake City, UT by 100%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.48 $29.48

$18.69 $18.69

57.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$82.1 $82.1

74.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.41 $12.41

$11.21 $11.21

10.70%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$4.90 $4.90

24.08%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$2.25 $2.25

48.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.72 $1.72

56.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.17 $8.17

$6.10 $6.10

33.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.04 $12.04

$7.29 $7.29

65.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

$0.96 $0.96

68.75%

White Bread (500g)

$5.08 $5.08

$3.35 $3.35

51.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.12 $8.12

$3.79 $3.79

114.25%

Eggs

$6.87 $6.87

$4.35 $4.35

57.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$12.52 $12.52

40.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$10.41 $10.41

57.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.81 $19.81

$16.21 $16.21

22.21%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 $7.66

$4.99 $4.99

53.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.08 $2.08

21.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$3.71 $3.71

51.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.62 $4.62

38.53%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.61 $2.61

47.13%

Onion (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.67 $2.67

53.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.86 $1.86

65.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.97 $1.97

26.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.83 $18.83

$9.15 $9.15

105.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$15.02 $15.02

30.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.99 $1.99

50.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.38 $2.38

57.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.45 $2.45

20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$86.5 $86.5

53.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 $5.05

$2.47 $2.47

104.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.45 $1.45

51.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.75 $42.75

$25.48 $25.48

67.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.99 $0.99

-2.02%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$24.8K $24.8K

40.95%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$25.9K $25.9K

9.43%

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

$182 $182

$172 $172

5.63%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$67.1 $67.1

-10.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 $63.5

$83.5 $83.5

-23.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$28.25 $28.25

404.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 $63.6

$16.35 $16.35

289.17%

Cinema Ticket

$19.89 $19.89

$13.98 $13.98

42.27%

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

$3,129 $3,129

$1,004 $1,004

211.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$58.2K $58.2K

$18.3K $18.3K

218.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$65.5 $65.5

3.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$44.90 $44.90

5.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$105 $105

6.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$112 $112

55.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,145 $4,145

$1,656 $1,656

150.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,412 $1,412

90.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,255 $8,255

$2,819 $2,819

192.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,298 $5,298

$2,093 $2,093

153.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.5K $18.5K

$4,133 $4,133

348.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,505 $6,505

$2,927 $2,927

122.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,520 $5,520

$4,220 $4,220

30.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.49

-0.77%

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

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

Last update for Salt Lake City, UT: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,145 in New York, NY versus $1,656 in Salt Lake City, 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 31% 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 $143 in New York, NY versus $82.0 in Salt Lake City, UT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $553 vs $378 – making Salt Lake City, 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 Salt Lake City, UT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 65% more than Salt Lake City, 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 $6,623 per month in New York, NY and $4,004 in Salt Lake City, UT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $3,129 per month in New York, NY and $1,004 in Salt Lake City, UT. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 46% 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.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,415 in New York, NY and $2,670 in Salt Lake City, UT. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Salt Lake City, UT costs $2,670 versus $4,415 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 Salt Lake City, 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.