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

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 17.8% more expensive than San Rafael, CA without rent, and 0.8% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 39.5% more expensive than San Rafael, CA without rent, and 45.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.68 $29.68

$22.73 $22.73

30.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 $144

$64.9 $64.9

122.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.43 $12.43

$11.05 $11.05

12.49%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.77 $5.77

1.21%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.6 $2.6

25.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.56 $2.56

0.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.24 $8.24

$5.94 $5.94

38.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.86 $11.86

$9.47 $9.47

25.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.27 $1.27

22.83%

White Bread (500g)

$5.23 $5.23

$3.96 $3.96

32.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.11 $8.11

$6.91 $6.91

17.37%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$4.54 $4.54

59.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.08 $17.08

$15.52 $15.52

10.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$12.85 $12.85

26.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.02 $20.02

$18.39 $18.39

8.86%

Apples (1kg)

$7.49 $7.49

$4.98 $4.98

50.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.91 $2.91

-12.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.82 $5.82

$6.18 $6.18

-5.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$8.42 $8.42

-22.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.76 $3.76

-1.06%

Onion (1kg)

$3.9 $3.9

$3.79 $3.79

2.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.5 $2.5

22.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.96 $2.96

-13.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.21 $19.21

$10.81 $10.81

77.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.79 $17.79

$12.59 $12.59

41.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.1 $2.1

43.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.49 $3.49

6.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.53 $1.53

90.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$30.14 $30.14

344.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 $5.13

$3.59 $3.59

42.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.65 $1.65

30.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.57 $41.57

$28.66 $28.66

45.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.23 $1.23

-22.76%

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

$35K $35K

$27K $27K

29.90%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$27.1K $27.1K

2.31%

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

$179 $179

$187 $187

-4.31%

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

$60 $60

$51.3 $51.3

16.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$61.6 $61.6

3.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$247 $247

-42.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.9 $63.9

$39.9 $39.9

60.15%

Cinema Ticket

$19.9 $19.9

$14.71 $14.71

35.28%

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

$3,206 $3,206

$1,967 $1,967

63.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.5K $56.5K

$23.6K $23.6K

138.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.7 $65.7

$41.12 $41.12

59.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.75 $48.75

$37.89 $37.89

28.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$101 $101

9.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$122 $122

40.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,165 $4,165

$3,340 $3,340

24.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,653 $2,653

$2,833 $2,833

-6.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,412 $8,412

$4,080 $4,080

106.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,277 $5,277

$3,280 $3,280

60.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$15.6K $15.6K

$7,615 $7,615

105.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.2K $11.2K

$5,279 $5,279

111.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,616 $5,616

$5,319 $5,319

5.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.32

1.90%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

Last update for San Rafael, CA: October 28, 2025

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