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

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 30.4% more expensive than Santa Monica, CA without rent, and 0.4% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 37.3% more expensive than Santa Monica, CA without rent, and 0.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.68 $29.68

$25.29 $25.29

17.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 $144

$99.5 $99.5

44.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.43 $12.43

$12.3 $12.3

1.06%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.68 $5.68

2.82%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.88 $2.88

13.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.3 $2.3

12.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.24 $8.24

$8.59 $8.59

-4.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.86 $11.86

$9.32 $9.32

27.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.18 $1.18

32.20%

White Bread (500g)

$5.23 $5.23

$4.45 $4.45

17.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.11 $8.11

$4.49 $4.49

80.62%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$7.19 $7.19

0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.08 $17.08

$12.47 $12.47

36.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$13.7 $13.7

18.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.02 $20.02

$14.46 $14.46

38.45%

Apples (1kg)

$7.49 $7.49

$5.37 $5.37

39.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.95 $1.95

30.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.82 $5.82

$3.97 $3.97

46.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$5.73 $5.73

13.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.98 $2.98

24.83%

Onion (1kg)

$3.9 $3.9

$2.45 $2.45

59.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.82 $1.82

68.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.12 $2.12

21.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.21 $19.21

$10.83 $10.83

77.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.79 $17.79

$15.28 $15.28

16.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.53 $2.53

18.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 $3.72

$5.34 $5.34

-30.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.08 $2.08

40.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$81.5 $81.5

64.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 $5.13

$3.15 $3.15

62.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.71 $1.71

25.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.57 $41.57

$29.08 $29.08

42.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.24 $1.24

-23.39%

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

$35K $35K

$23.8K $23.8K

46.92%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.5K $25.5K

8.67%

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

$179 $179

$190 $190

-5.84%

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

$60 $60

$58.4 $58.4

2.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$67 $67

-4.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$122 $122

15.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.9 $63.9

$44.73 $44.73

42.86%

Cinema Ticket

$19.9 $19.9

$18.03 $18.03

10.37%

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

$3,206 $3,206

$1,791 $1,791

79.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.5K $56.5K

$14.7K $14.7K

283.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.7 $65.7

$62.8 $62.8

4.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.75 $48.75

$34.08 $34.08

43.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$102 $102

9.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$153 $153

12.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,165 $4,165

$3,279 $3,279

27.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,653 $2,653

$2,892 $2,892

-8.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,412 $8,412

$6,850 $6,850

22.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,277 $5,277

$5,897 $5,897

-10.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$15.6K $15.6K

$10.8K $10.8K

44.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.2K $11.2K

$8,171 $8,171

36.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,616 $5,616

$7,229 $7,229

-22.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.49

-0.77%

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 Santa Monica, CA: October 27, 2025

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