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

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 26.2% more expensive than San Diego, CA without rent, and 12.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 28.7% more expensive than San Diego, CA without rent, and 26% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.05 $30.05

$22.80 $22.80

31.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$99.8 $99.8

42.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$14.74 $14.74

-16.76%

Cappuccino

$5.99 $5.99

$5.83 $5.83

2.74%

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

$3.31 $3.31

$2.94 $2.94

12.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.50 $2.50

8.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.23 $8.23

$8.16 $8.16

0.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.04 $12.04

$8.93 $8.93

34.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.25 $1.25

22.40%

White Bread (500g)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.32 $4.32

20.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.41 $8.41

$4.41 $4.41

90.70%

Eggs

$7.21 $7.21

$5.33 $5.33

35.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.68 $17.68

$13.29 $13.29

33.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.44 $16.44

$12.76 $12.76

28.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.98 $19.98

$18.51 $18.51

7.94%

Apples (1kg)

$7.34 $7.34

$4.59 $4.59

59.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.72 $1.72

44.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$4.10 $4.10

39.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.55 $6.55

$4.80 $4.80

36.46%

Potato (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$2.93 $2.93

31.40%

Onion (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$2.39 $2.39

65.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.25 $2.25

37.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.19 $19.19

$11.85 $11.85

61.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.35 $18.35

$15.24 $15.24

20.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.83 $1.83

63.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 $3.81

$2.55 $2.55

49.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.49 $2.49

18.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$72.7 $72.7

84.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.92 $4.92

$2.94 $2.94

67.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.06 $2.06

2.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.15 $42.15

$27.45 $27.45

53.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.25 $1.25

-22.40%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$31.2K $31.2K

13.07%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$27.1K $27.1K

1.74%

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

$182 $182

$277 $277

-34.50%

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

$59.3 $59.3

$66.5 $66.5

-10.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.9 $62.9

$81.0 $81.0

-22.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$142 $142

$68.1 $68.1

107.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.2 $65.2

$24.95 $24.95

161.16%

Cinema Ticket

$20.25 $20.25

$16.06 $16.06

26.09%

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

$3,193 $3,193

$1,640 $1,640

94.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.7K $57.7K

$28.9K $28.9K

99.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$58.9 $58.9

15.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.71 $47.71

$57.5 $57.5

-16.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 $114

$101 $101

13.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 $171

$116 $116

47.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,152 $4,152

$2,779 $2,779

49.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,695 $2,695

$2,393 $2,393

12.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,492 $8,492

$5,065 $5,065

67.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,225 $5,225

$4,155 $4,155

25.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$21.5K $21.5K

$8,546 $8,546

151.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.0K $10.0K

$6,767 $6,767

48.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,197 $5,197

$5,744 $5,744

-9.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.39

0.78%

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

Last update for New York, NY: January 12, 2026

Last update for San Diego, CA: January 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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