Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Simi Valley, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Simi Valley, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,841 per month in New York, NY vs $3,402 in Simi Valley, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,287 per month in New York, NY vs $4,756 in Simi Valley, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,734 per month in New York, NY vs $6,110 in Simi Valley, CA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 42% more than Simi Valley, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both New York, NY and Simi Valley, CA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 254%, Simi Valley, CA by 149%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.33 $25.33

$23.57 $23.57

7.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$68.4 $68.4

107.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$11.82 $11.82

16.58%

Cappuccino

$6.19 $6.19

$5.51 $5.51

12.34%

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

$3.69 $3.69

$2.03 $2.03

81.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.39 $2.39

23.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$7.51 $7.51

3.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$6.15 $6.15

64.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.15 $1.15

20.87%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$2.46 $2.46

86.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$4.73 $4.73

46.72%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$4.74 $4.74

22.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$16.69 $16.69

3.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$10.83 $10.83

38.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.02 $18.02

$17.72 $17.72

1.69%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$3.89 $3.89

61.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.83 $1.83

16.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$3.64 $3.64

59.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$5.04 $5.04

24.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.57 $2.57

31.91%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$2.67 $2.67

59.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.94 $1.94

42.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.13 $2.13

20.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$11.75 $11.75

59.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 $20.30

$11.77 $11.77

72.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.24 $2.24

40.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$3.08 $3.08

30.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.73 $1.73

71.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.95 $2.95

4.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.07 $2.07

3.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

$27.94 $27.94

48.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.31 $1.31

-13.74%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$36.3K $36.3K

-2.49%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.1K $26.1K

-1.82%

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

$236 $236

$233 $233

1.45%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$64.2 $64.2

14.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$79.0 $79.0

-8.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$30.33 $30.33

312.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.1 $63.1

Cinema Ticket

$23.37 $23.37

$12.18 $12.18

91.87%

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

$3,353 $3,353

$1,193 $1,193

181.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.0K $61.0K

$36.7K $36.7K

66.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$67.3 $67.3

7.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$57.2 $57.2

-8.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$103 $103

12.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$147 $147

-15.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,438 $4,438

$2,083 $2,083

113.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,045 $3,045

$2,017 $2,017

51.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,088 $9,088

$2,406 $2,406

277.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,404 $5,404

$3,223 $3,223

67.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K $18.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 $6,500

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,258 $5,258

$5,032 $5,032

4.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.37

1.88%

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

Last update for New York, NY: September 12, 2026

Last update for Simi Valley, CA: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,438 in New York, NY versus $2,083 in Simi Valley, 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 5% higher in New York, NY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $142 in New York, NY versus $68.0 in Simi Valley, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $516 vs $389 – making Simi Valley, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Simi Valley, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 42% more than Simi Valley, 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 $7,261 per month in New York, NY and $5,104 in Simi Valley, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,841 in New York, NY and $3,402 in Simi Valley, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,353 per month in New York, NY and $1,193 in Simi Valley, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,841 in New York, NY and $3,402 in Simi Valley, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Simi Valley, CA costs $3,402 versus $4,841 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Simi Valley, 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.