Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Suffolk, VA: $2,204 a month against $4,938 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $32,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,938
/mo nomad
Suffolk, VA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New York, NY and in Suffolk, VA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in New York, NY and in Suffolk, VA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,938 per month in New York, NY vs $2,204 in Suffolk, VA, rent included.

  • New York, NY $4,938
  • Suffolk, VA $2,204

A couple spends around $7,273 per month in New York, NY vs $3,210 in Suffolk, VA, rent included.

  • New York, NY $7,273
  • Suffolk, VA $3,210

A family of three spends $9,608 per month in New York, NY vs $4,215 in Suffolk, VA, rent included.

  • New York, NY $9,608
  • Suffolk, VA $4,215

New York, NY costs about 124% more than Suffolk, VA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both New York, NY and Suffolk, VA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 264%, Suffolk, VA by 63%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Suffolk, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.99 $24.99
$19.92 $19.92
25.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120 $120
$80.2 $80.2
49.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.74 $13.74
$11.96 $11.96
14.88%
Cappuccino
$6.60 $6.60
$4.48 $4.48
47.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 $3.82
$2.06 $2.06
85.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.95 $1.95
47.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.95 $7.95
$4.05 $4.05
96.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.06 $10.06
$5.15 $5.15
95.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Suffolk, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.07 $1.07
28.04%
White Bread (500g)
$4.75 $4.75
$2.32 $2.32
104.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.69 $7.69
$2.55 $2.55
201.57%
Eggs
$5.87 $5.87
$3.87 $3.87
51.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.25 $19.25
$16.37 $16.37
17.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.83 $17.83
$5.41 $5.41
229.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.03 $19.03
$17.81 $17.81
6.85%
Apples (1kg)
$6.69 $6.69
$4.06 $4.06
64.78%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 $2.29
$1.09 $1.09
110.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.41 $6.41
$1.99 $1.99
222.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.75 $6.75
$4.36 $4.36
54.82%
Potato (1kg)
$3.93 $3.93
$2.66 $2.66
47.74%
Onion (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$2.12 $2.12
113.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.79 $2.79
$1.66 $1.66
68.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$3.08 $3.08
-18.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.10 $18.10
$9.44 $9.44
91.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.16 $20.16
$14.79 $14.79
36.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$1.78 $1.78
83.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 $3.75
$3.69 $3.69
1.63%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Suffolk, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$143 $143
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.06 $3.06
$4.09 $4.09
-25.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.99 $1.99
8.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.33 $41.33
$25.34 $25.34
63.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$0.89 $0.89
25.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K $33.1K
$30.7K $30.7K
7.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$25.5K $25.5K
0.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Suffolk, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$150 $150
46.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$75.3 $75.3
$53.8 $53.8
40.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.5 $70.5
$79.5 $79.5
-11.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Suffolk, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$116 $116
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$67.6 $67.6
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$21.37 $21.37
$15.15 $15.15
41.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Suffolk, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,432 $3,432
$886 $886
287.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$61.7K $61.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Suffolk, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 $74.9
$47.14 $47.14
58.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.1 $52.1
$47.88 $47.88
8.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 $117
$102 $102
14.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 $135
$133 $133
1.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Suffolk, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,347 $4,347
$1,206 $1,206
260.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,117 $3,117
$1,085 $1,085
187.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$9,110 $9,110
$2,054 $2,054
343.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,379 $5,379
$1,667 $1,667
222.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.3K $19.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,943 $6,943
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Suffolk, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,238 $5,238
$4,706 $4,706
11.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.85
5.68
20.60%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 17, 2026

Last update for Suffolk, VA: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3.1K
Suffolk, VA
$1.1K 65.2% $2K
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$552
Suffolk, VA
$347 37.1% $205
Eating Out
New York, NY
$407
Suffolk, VA
$296 27.4% $111
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$365
Suffolk, VA
$283 22.4% $82
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$170
Suffolk, VA
$148 12.9% $22
Getting Around
New York, NY
$168
Suffolk, VA
$14 * 91.7% $154
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$158
Suffolk, VA
$30 * 80.9% $128

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,347 in New York, NY versus $1,206 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 11% 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 $120 in New York, NY versus $80.0 in Suffolk, VA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $552 vs $347 – making Suffolk, VA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇺🇸 Suffolk, VA
🕒 Local time
23:18 11:18 PM
23:18 11:18 PM
Same time as New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
94,324
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New York, NY Suffolk, VA 480 km
From you
  • New York, NY
  • Suffolk, VA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, New York, NY or Suffolk, VA?
New York, NY costs about 124% more than Suffolk, VA, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in New York, NY and in Suffolk, VA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,407 per month in New York, NY and $3,307 in Suffolk, VA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, New York, NY or Suffolk, VA?
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.
How much does it cost to live in New York, NY compared to Suffolk, VA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,938 in New York, NY and $2,204 in Suffolk, VA. That's a gap of about 124%.
How do childcare costs compare in New York, NY and in Suffolk, VA?
Kindergarten costs $3,432 per month in New York, NY and $886 in Suffolk, VA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,500/month in New York, NY or in Suffolk, VA?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Suffolk, VA, where all-in costs run around $2,204, than in New York, NY at $4,938. In Suffolk, VA it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, New York, NY or Suffolk, VA?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Suffolk, VA costs $2,204 versus $4,938 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to New York, NY or to Suffolk, VA?
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.

New York, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?