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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: New York, NY is 8% more expensive than San Francisco, CA without rent, and 2.8% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: New York, NY is 7.1% more expensive than San Francisco, CA without rent, and 12.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
New York, NY
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$24.77 $24.77
19.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$131 $131
9.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$14.79 $14.79
-15.96%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.84 $5.84
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$3.28 $3.28
-0.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.48 $2.48
4.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$7.9 $7.9
4.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$8.12 $8.12
46.06%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.47 $1.47
6.12%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$5.18 $5.18
0.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$6.61 $6.61
22.69%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$5.97 $5.97
21.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$23.1 $23.1
-26.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$15.26 $15.26
6.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$23.64 $23.64
-15.31%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$6.94 $6.94
7.93%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.77 $2.77
-7.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$5.32 $5.32
9.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$7.41 $7.41
-12.01%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.85 $3.85
-3.38%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$3.85 $3.85
1.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.89 $2.89
6.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.87 $2.87
-10.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$14.06 $14.06
36.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$17.87 $17.87
-0.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.64 $2.64
14.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.29 $3.29
13.07%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
New York, NY
San Francisco, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.04 $3.04
-3.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
$95.1 $95.1
40.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$4.11 $4.11
24.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.05 $2.05
4.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$39.34 $39.34
5.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.33 $1.33
-28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35K $35K
$34.7K $34.7K
1.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
5.70%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$225 $225
-20.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$64.6 $64.6
-7.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$67.6 $67.6
-5.63%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$100 $100
40.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
$12.65 $12.65
405.14%
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$17.04 $17.04
16.78%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
New York, NY
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$3,218 $3,218
-0.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$38.1K $38.1K
48.28%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$67.7 $67.7
-2.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$45.18 $45.18
7.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$101 $101
10.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$150 $150
14.22%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
San Francisco, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$3,301 $3,301
26.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$2,747 $2,747
-3.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$5,371 $5,371
56.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$4,500 $4,500
17.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$10.8K $10.8K
44.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$9,649 $9,649
15.63%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
San Francisco, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$7,014 $7,014
-19.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.36
1.26%

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 Francisco, CA: October 29, 2025

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