Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Santa Maria, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Santa Maria, CA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: New York, NY is 86.3% more expensive than Santa Maria, CA without rent, and 39.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: New York, NY is 103.9% more expensive than Santa Maria, CA without rent, and 73.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
New York, NY
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$20.18 $20.18
47.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$68.9 $68.9
109.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$11.29 $11.29
10.10%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$4.76 $4.76
22.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.45 $2.45
33.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.01 $2.01
28.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$6.11 $6.11
34.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$8.16 $8.16
45.34%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$0.97 $0.97
60.82%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$2.72 $2.72
92.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$4.76 $4.76
70.38%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$3.59 $3.59
101.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$10.26 $10.26
66.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$8.37 $8.37
94.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$17.21 $17.21
16.33%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$3.81 $3.81
96.59%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.71 $1.71
49.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$3.48 $3.48
67.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$3.25 $3.25
100.62%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.07 $3.07
21.17%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$2.07 $2.07
88.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$1.78 $1.78
72.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.31 $1.31
96.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$11 $11
74.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$15.26 $15.26
16.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.71 $1.71
76.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.31 $3.31
12.39%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
New York, NY
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.94 $1.94
50.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$3.49 $3.49
46.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.81 $1.81
18.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$24.6 $24.6
68.98%
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
$36.8K $36.8K
-4.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$29.4K $29.4K
-5.64%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$166 $166
7.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$51.1 $51.1
17.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$85.4 $85.4
-25.23%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$43.52 $43.52
223.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$14.55 $14.55
36.77%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$992 $992
223.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$12.9K $12.9K
339.04%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$55.2 $55.2
19.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$39.73 $39.73
22.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$73 $73
52.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$78.1 $78.1
119.61%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$2,257 $2,257
84.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$2,063 $2,063
28.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$3,376 $3,376
149.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$3,138 $3,138
68.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$7,992 $7,992
95.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$7,900 $7,900
41.23%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$4,387 $4,387
28.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.51
-1.08%

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 Santa Maria, CA: October 28, 2025

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