Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and San Fernando, Mexico

For one person, living is cheaper in San Fernando: $1,208 a month against $4,906 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $44,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New York, NY, United States
San Fernando, Mexico
New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,906
/mo nomad
San Fernando
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,208
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New York, NY and in San Fernando

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 San Fernando actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,906 per month in New York, NY vs $1,208 in San Fernando, rent included.

  • New York, NY $4,906
  • San Fernando $1,208

A couple spends around $7,273 per month in New York, NY vs $1,881 in San Fernando, rent included.

  • New York, NY $7,273
  • San Fernando $1,881

A family of three spends $9,641 per month in New York, NY vs $2,554 in San Fernando, rent included.

  • New York, NY $9,641
  • San Fernando $2,554

New York, NY costs about 306% more than San Fernando, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

New York, NY sits 263% above the global median, while San Fernando is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
San Fernando
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.93 $26.93
$10.72 MX$199
151.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$117 $117
$42.58 MX$792
174.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.60 $14.60
$8.54 MX$159
70.96%
Cappuccino
$6.54 $6.54
$3.46 MX$64.3
89.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86 $3.86
$1.38 MX$25.67
179.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$1.00 MX$18.51
195.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.08 $8.08
$2.36 MX$43.80
242.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.85 $9.85
$3.98 MX$74.0
147.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
San Fernando
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$1.63 MX$30.34
-19.63%
White Bread (500g)
$4.97 $4.97
$2.62 MX$48.76
89.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.70 $7.70
$1.62 MX$30.09
375.31%
Eggs
$6.09 $6.09
$2.37 MX$44.09
156.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.55 $19.55
$8.30 MX$154
135.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.59 $17.59
$7.99 MX$149
120.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.26 $20.26
$11.40 MX$212
77.72%
Apples (1kg)
$6.99 $6.99
$2.71 MX$50.4
157.93%
Banana (1kg)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.51 MX$27.99
46.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.72 $6.72
$1.87 MX$34.83
259.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.12 $7.12
$1.76 MX$32.76
304.55%
Potato (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$1.96 MX$36.50
135.20%
Onion (1kg)
$4.78 $4.78
$1.85 MX$34.44
158.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.42 MX$26.44
102.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.69 $2.69
$1.07 MX$19.88
151.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.14 $19.14
$4.21 MX$78.3
354.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.63 $19.63
$10.38 MX$193
89.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.32 $3.32
$1.79 MX$33.31
85.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.03 MX$56.4
38.28%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
San Fernando
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.02 $3.02
$0.67 MX$12.44
350.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$139 $139
$30.25 MX$563
360.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.49 MX$46.28
22.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.97 MX$36.64
11.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.33 $41.33
$10.98 MX$204
276.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.42 MX$26.41
-20.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K $34.5K
$23.7K MX$441.0K
45.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$23.4K MX$435.2K
10.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
San Fernando
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$232 $232
$56.3 MX$1,047
312.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$71.0 $71.0
$22.26 MX$414
219.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.7 $67.7
$29.39 MX$547
130.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
San Fernando
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$115 $115
$32.03 MX$596
260.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$76.8 $76.8
$19.98 MX$372
284.43%
Cinema Ticket
$22.41 $22.41
$5.10 MX$94.8
339.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
San Fernando
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,606 $3,606
$219 MX$4,067
1548.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$68.7K $68.7K
$4,535 MX$84.3K
1414.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
San Fernando
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.3 $79.3
$53.6 MX$997
47.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.4 $51.4
$40.53 MX$754
26.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 $121
$100.0 MX$1,859
21.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 $140
$89.9 MX$1,671
56.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
San Fernando
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,555 $4,555
$596 MX$11.1K
664.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,040 $3,040
$442 MX$8,223
587.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$9,742 $9,742
$1,019 MX$19.0K
856.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,331 $5,331
$766 MX$14.3K
595.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$18.2K $18.2K
$1,875 MX$34.9K
871.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,685 $6,685
$1,119 MX$20.8K
497.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
San Fernando
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,096 $5,096
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.89
11.31
-39.08%

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

Last update for New York, NY: November 1, 2026

Last update for San Fernando: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3K
San Fernando
$442 85.5% $2.6K
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$567
San Fernando
$260 54.1% $307
Eating Out
New York, NY
$425
San Fernando
$182 57.2% $243
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$371
San Fernando
$108 70.9% $263
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$176
San Fernando
$128 27.6% $49
Getting Around
New York, NY
$165
San Fernando
$45 72.6% $120
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$160
San Fernando
$42 73.6% $118

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,555 in New York, NY versus $596 in San Fernando. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $117 in New York, NY versus $43 in San Fernando. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $567 vs $260 – making San Fernando the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇲🇽 San Fernando
🕒 Local time
19:13 7:13 PM
18:13 6:13 PM
1 h behind New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
11,867
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 7, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.895 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 7, 2026: 1 USD = 18.6 MXN (100 MXN = 5.38 USD). 1 EUR = 20.78 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New York, NY San Fernando 3,210 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • New York, NY
  • San Fernando

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 San Fernando: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, New York, NY or San Fernando?
New York, NY costs about 306% more than San Fernando, 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 San Fernando?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,358 per month in New York, NY and $1,812 in San Fernando. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, New York, NY or San Fernando?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Fernando, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $596 there versus $4,555 in New York, NY.
How do childcare costs compare in New York, NY and in San Fernando?
Kindergarten costs $3,606 per month in New York, NY and $219 in San Fernando. 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 San Fernando?
Groceries cost about 118% more in New York, NY, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $1,500/month in New York, NY or in San Fernando?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in San Fernando, where all-in costs run around $1,208, than in New York, NY at $4,906. In San Fernando it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward San Fernando – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, San Fernando is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 75% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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