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 16.4% more expensive than Santa Monica, CA without rent, and 1.9% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 25.4% more expensive than Santa Monica, CA without rent, and 1.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.14 $30.14

$24.98 $24.98

20.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 $147

$102 $102

44.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.62 $12.62

$12.56 $12.56

0.48%

Cappuccino

$6.00 $6.00

$5.76 $5.76

4.17%

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

$3.35 $3.35

$2.96 $2.96

13.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.29 $2.29

12.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.18 $8.18

$8.33 $8.33

-1.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.99 $11.99

$9.43 $9.43

27.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.20 $1.20

34.17%

White Bread (500g)

$5.03 $5.03

$4.46 $4.46

12.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.40 $8.40

$4.43 $4.43

89.62%

Eggs

$7.10 $7.10

$6.85 $6.85

3.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.38 $17.38

$12.87 $12.87

35.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.18 $16.18

$13.85 $13.85

16.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.48 $20.48

$14.56 $14.56

40.66%

Apples (1kg)

$7.36 $7.36

$5.41 $5.41

36.04%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.95 $1.95

31.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$4.14 $4.14

37.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.24 $6.24

$5.63 $5.63

10.83%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.04 $3.04

27.30%

Onion (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.47 $2.47

66.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.83 $1.83

65.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.14 $2.14

19.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.07 $19.07

$11.04 $11.04

72.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.66 $19.66

$14.93 $14.93

31.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.53 $2.53

17.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$5.16 $5.16

-27.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.06 $2.06

42.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

$79.5 $79.5

64.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.13 $3.13

61.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.66 $1.66

31.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.49 $41.49

$29.09 $29.09

42.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.24 $1.24

-20.97%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$24.2K $24.2K

42.65%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$25.8K $25.8K

9.60%

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

$184 $184

$189 $189

-2.68%

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

$59.0 $59.0

$58.3 $58.3

1.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$66.0 $66.0

-6.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$119 $119

18.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

$45.85 $45.85

42.36%

Cinema Ticket

$20.13 $20.13

$17.73 $17.73

13.54%

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

$3,191 $3,191

$1,786 $1,786

78.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.5K $57.5K

$15.3K $15.3K

277.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.2 $67.2

$63.2 $63.2

6.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.98 $47.98

$34.32 $34.32

39.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$102 $102

9.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$170 $170

$151 $151

12.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,207 $4,207

$3,263 $3,263

28.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,717 $2,717

$2,904 $2,904

-6.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,382 $8,382

$6,827 $6,827

22.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,127 $5,127

$5,956 $5,956

-13.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.5K $19.5K

$10.7K $10.7K

83.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,862 $8,862

$7,974 $7,974

11.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,228 $5,228

$6,856 $6,856

-23.74%

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: April 11, 2026

Last update for Santa Monica, CA: April 12, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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