Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Staten Island, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Staten Island, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,438 per month in New York, NY vs $2,991 in Staten Island, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,016 per month in New York, NY vs $4,613 in Staten Island, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,593 per month in New York, NY vs $6,236 in Staten Island, NY, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 48% more than Staten Island, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both New York, NY and Staten Island, NY sit above the global median – New York, NY by 231%, Staten Island, NY by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.91 $29.91

$21.76 $21.76

37.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 $144

$98.9 $98.9

45.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$11.86 $11.86

3.88%

Cappuccino

$6.03 $6.03

$5.79 $5.79

4.15%

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

$3.39 $3.39

$2.35 $2.35

44.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.55 $1.55

65.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.95 $7.95

3.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.95 $11.95

$8.04 $8.04

48.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.55 $1.55

-0.65%

White Bread (500g)

$5.15 $5.15

$4.50 $4.50

14.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.43 $8.43

$8.00 $8.00

5.37%

Eggs

$6.97 $6.97

$6.77 $6.77

2.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.28 $17.28

$17.11 $17.11

0.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$13.44 $13.44

20.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.95 $19.95

$20.48 $20.48

-2.59%

Apples (1kg)

$7.45 $7.45

$6.45 $6.45

15.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.58 $2.58

-6.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$5.81 $5.81

1.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$6.49 $6.49

-2.77%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.81 $3.81

-2.36%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.97 $3.97

0.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.85 $2.85

11.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.83 $2.83

-9.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.09 $19.09

$19.38 $19.38

-1.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.24 $20.24

$15.09 $15.09

34.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.80 $1.80

66.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.90 $3.90

-0.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.97 $2.97

-0.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 $5.13

$2.95 $2.95

73.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.14 $2.14

2.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.64 $42.64

$41.55 $41.55

2.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.90 $0.90

5.56%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$35.0K $35.0K

-1.52%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$27.5K $27.5K

2.57%

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

$182 $182

$216 $216

-16.00%

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

$60.1 $60.1

$59.0 $59.0

1.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$62.1 $62.1

-0.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$115 $115

21.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.4 $64.4

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$20.05 $20.05

1.40%

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

$3,222 $3,222

$1,975 $1,975

63.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.2K $56.2K

$15.7K $15.7K

257.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.9 $65.9

$68.3 $68.3

-3.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$37.57 $37.57

25.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$112 $112

-1.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$173 $173

$104 $104

67.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,208 $4,208

$1,780 $1,780

136.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,647 $2,647

$1,374 $1,374

92.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,415 $8,415

$3,240 $3,240

159.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,170 $5,170

$2,680 $2,680

92.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.1K $20.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,742 $8,742

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,144 $5,144

$6,221 $6,221

-17.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.74

-4.45%

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

Last update for New York, NY: April 20, 2026

Last update for Staten Island, NY: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,208 in New York, NY versus $1,780 in Staten Island, NY. 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 21% higher in Staten Island, NY, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $144 in New York, NY versus $99 in Staten Island, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $515 – making Staten Island, NY 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 Staten Island, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 48% more than Staten Island, NY, 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 $6,657 per month in New York, NY and $4,486 in Staten Island, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Staten Island, NY, 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 $4,438 in New York, NY and $2,991 in Staten Island, NY. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,222 per month in New York, NY and $1,975 in Staten Island, NY. 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 $4,438 in New York, NY and $2,991 in Staten Island, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Staten Island, NY costs $2,991 versus $4,438 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 Staten Island, NY. 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.