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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,878 per month in New York, NY vs $4,463 in San Francisco, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,262 per month in New York, NY vs $6,812 in San Francisco, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,645 per month in New York, NY vs $9,161 in San Francisco, CA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 9% more than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both New York, NY and San Francisco, CA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 255%, San Francisco, CA by 225%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.20 $25.20

$24.72 $24.72

1.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 $150

$121 $121

24.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.98 $13.98

$15.27 $15.27

-8.45%

Cappuccino

$6.39 $6.39

$5.79 $5.79

10.36%

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

$4.01 $4.01

$3.18 $3.18

26.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.75 $2.75

5.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 $8.01

$7.99 $7.99

0.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.94 $9.94

$8.79 $8.79

13.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.73 $1.73

-23.12%

White Bread (500g)

$4.80 $4.80

$5.91 $5.91

-18.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.81 $6.81

$5.15 $5.15

32.23%

Eggs

$5.67 $5.67

$5.19 $5.19

9.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.66 $16.66

$17.23 $17.23

-3.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.82 $14.82

$16.46 $16.46

-9.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.90 $18.90

$23.66 $23.66

-20.12%

Apples (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$6.66 $6.66

-9.46%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$3.01 $3.01

-28.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$4.70 $4.70

20.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$7.12 $7.12

-14.75%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.15 $3.15

10.79%

Onion (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$3.88 $3.88

6.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.06 $3.06

-12.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.85 $2.85

-10.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.04 $19.04

$12.07 $12.07

57.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.73 $19.73

$15.23 $15.23

29.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.29 $3.29

0.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.43 $3.43

15.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.99 $2.99

$3.04 $3.04

-1.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 $140

$91.4 $91.4

53.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$4.07 $4.07

-27.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.07 $2.07

2.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.24 $41.24

$38.35 $38.35

7.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.48 $1.48

-25.00%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$37.3K $37.3K

-5.62%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

-2.03%

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

$218 $218

$247 $247

-11.59%

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

$76.5 $76.5

$64.2 $64.2

19.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.0 $76.0

$77.5 $77.5

-1.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$128 $128

$132 $132

-3.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.2 $63.2

$22.24 $22.24

184.22%

Cinema Ticket

$23.94 $23.94

$17.76 $17.76

34.80%

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

$3,313 $3,313

$2,872 $2,872

15.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$60.8K $60.8K

$41.2K $41.2K

47.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.0 $74.0

$81.2 $81.2

-8.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.3 $56.3

$54.9 $54.9

2.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$107 $107

8.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$156 $156

-17.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,391 $4,391

$3,768 $3,768

16.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,088 $3,088

$2,660 $2,660

16.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,291 $9,291

$6,137 $6,137

51.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,460 $5,460

$5,015 $5,015

8.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

$10.7K $10.7K

81.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,723 $6,723

$9,549 $9,549

-29.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,364 $5,364

$6,663 $6,663

-19.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.5

-1.08%

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

Last update for New York, NY: August 29, 2026

Last update for San Francisco, CA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,391 in New York, NY versus $3,768 in San Francisco, CA. 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 24% higher in San Francisco, CA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $150 in New York, NY versus $121 in San Francisco, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $512 in New York, NY vs $546 in San Francisco, CA – so New York, NY wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Francisco, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 9% more than San Francisco, CA, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,317 per month in New York, NY and $6,695 in San Francisco, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Francisco, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $3,313 per month in New York, NY and $2,872 in San Francisco, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in New York, NY – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$4,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,878 in New York, NY and $4,463 in San Francisco, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. San Francisco, CA costs $4,463 versus $4,878 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with San Francisco, CA. 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.