Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and San Diego, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and San Diego, CA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: New York, NY is 27.2% more expensive than San Diego, CA without rent, and 11.6% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: New York, NY is 31.8% more expensive than San Diego, CA without rent, and 29.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
New York, NY
San Diego, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$22.95 $22.95
29.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$99.8 $99.8
44.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$14.8 $14.8
-16.01%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$6.07 $6.07
-3.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$3.08 $3.08
5.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.59 $2.59
-0.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$7.88 $7.88
4.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$8.95 $8.95
32.51%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
San Diego, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.26 $1.26
23.81%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$4.5 $4.5
16.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$4.42 $4.42
83.48%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$5.04 $5.04
43.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$13.66 $13.66
25.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$12.77 $12.77
27.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$18.5 $18.5
8.22%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$4.6 $4.6
62.83%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.71 $1.71
49.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$3.92 $3.92
48.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$4.73 $4.73
37.84%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.98 $2.98
24.83%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$2.47 $2.47
57.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.27 $2.27
35.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.5 $2.5
2.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$12.2 $12.2
57.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$15.29 $15.29
16.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.75 $1.75
72.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.54 $2.54
46.46%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
New York, NY
San Diego, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.56 $2.56
14.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
$72.1 $72.1
85.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$2.97 $2.97
72.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.07 $2.07
3.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$27.69 $27.69
50.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.26 $1.26
-24.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35K $35K
$30.7K $30.7K
13.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$26.6K $26.6K
3.99%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
San Diego, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$275 $275
-35.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$67 $67
-10.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$79.1 $79.1
-19.35%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
San Diego, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$66.6 $66.6
111.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
$24.66 $24.66
159.12%
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$15.76 $15.76
26.27%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
New York, NY
San Diego, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$1,625 $1,625
97.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$28.6K $28.6K
97.24%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
San Diego, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$58.1 $58.1
13.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$58.8 $58.8
-17.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$98 $98
13.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$116 $116
48.27%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
San Diego, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$2,808 $2,808
48.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$2,412 $2,412
10.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$5,005 $5,005
68.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$4,128 $4,128
27.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$9,534 $9,534
63.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$6,940 $6,940
60.76%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
San Diego, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$5,341 $5,341
5.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.39
0.78%

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 San Diego, CA: October 29, 2025

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