Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Suffolk, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Suffolk, VA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,503 per month in New York, NY vs $2,104 in Suffolk, VA, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,077 per month in New York, NY vs $3,140 in Suffolk, VA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,650 per month in New York, NY vs $4,176 in Suffolk, VA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 114% more than Suffolk, VA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Suffolk, VA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 236%, Suffolk, VA by 57%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$22.59 $22.59

34.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$78.6 $78.6

81.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$11.86 $11.86

6.66%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$5.09 $5.09

14.15%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$1.96 $1.96

66.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.95 $1.95

32.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$3.98 $3.98

105.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$4.93 $4.93

139.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.02 $1.02

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$2.26 $2.26

133.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$2.69 $2.69

210.04%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$3.94 $3.94

84.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$3.21 $3.21

438.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$5.06 $5.06

220.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$15.68 $15.68

26.40%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$4.09 $4.09

85.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.61 $1.61

50.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$3.15 $3.15

85.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.39 $4.39

45.56%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.45 $3.45

12.17%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.24 $3.24

25.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.65 $1.65

89.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.05 $2.05

19.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$4.89 $4.89

293.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$14.74 $14.74

35.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.76 $1.76

69.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.85 $3.85

-3.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.97 $1.97

44.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$1.96 $1.96

160.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.43 $1.43

47.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$29.70 $29.70

42.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.86 $0.86

12.79%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$11.2K $11.2K

209.49%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$15.3K $15.3K

81.92%

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

$181 $181

$148 $148

22.95%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$52.3 $52.3

15.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$66.7 $66.7

-6.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$43.79 $43.79

226.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$13.46 $13.46

48.44%

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

$3,216 $3,216

$861 $861

273.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$23.9K $23.9K

139.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$20.08 $20.08

236.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$48.39 $48.39

-1.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$99.7 $99.7

11.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$39.97 $39.97

322.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$1,100 $1,100

271.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$1,011 $1,011

166.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$1,948 $1,948

333.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$1,707 $1,707

200.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

$4,392 $4,392

26.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

5.68

13.38%

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

Last update for New York, NY: June 1, 2026

Last update for Suffolk, VA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,092 in New York, NY versus $1,100 in Suffolk, VA. 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 26% 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 $79.0 in Suffolk, VA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $300 – making Suffolk, VA 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 Suffolk, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 114% more than Suffolk, VA, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,754 per month in New York, NY and $3,155 in Suffolk, VA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Suffolk, VA, 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 $4,503 in New York, NY and $2,104 in Suffolk, VA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,216 per month in New York, NY and $861 in Suffolk, VA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Suffolk, VA, where all-in costs run around $2,104, than in New York, NY at $4,503. In Suffolk, VA it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Suffolk, VA costs $2,104 versus $4,503 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Suffolk, VA. 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.