Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Surprise, AZ Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Surprise, AZ

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,443 per month in New York, NY vs $2,730 in Surprise, AZ, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,945 per month in New York, NY vs $4,123 in Surprise, AZ, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,447 per month in New York, NY vs $5,516 in Surprise, AZ, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 63% more than Surprise, AZ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Surprise, AZ sit above the global median – New York, NY by 234%, Surprise, AZ by 105%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.45 $30.45

$19.85 $19.85

53.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$146 $146

$79.7 $79.7

83.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.71 $12.71

$11.88 $11.88

6.99%

Cappuccino

$5.87 $5.87

$5.35 $5.35

9.72%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$2.67 $2.67

20.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.12 $2.12

27.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$5.86 $5.86

39.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.89 $11.89

$6.88 $6.88

72.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$0.89 $0.89

75.28%

White Bread (500g)

$5.01 $5.01

$3.73 $3.73

34.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.33 $8.33

$5.31 $5.31

56.87%

Eggs

$7.02 $7.02

$4.54 $4.54

54.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$11.80 $11.80

47.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.72 $16.72

$11.76 $11.76

42.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.01 $20.01

$15.20 $15.20

31.64%

Apples (1kg)

$7.72 $7.72

$4.88 $4.88

58.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.90 $1.90

30.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$3.79 $3.79

50.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$4.24 $4.24

51.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.46 $2.46

52.44%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.51 $2.51

55.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.93 $1.93

57.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.32 $2.32

10.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.84 $18.84

$11.30 $11.30

66.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$13.28 $13.28

48.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.10 $2.10

42.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$4.02 $4.02

-3.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 $2.88

$3.91 $3.91

-26.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$78.5 $78.5

69.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$2.69 $2.69

89.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.33 $1.33

65.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.93 $41.93

$36.43 $36.43

15.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.90 $0.90

8.89%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$31.5K $31.5K

12.22%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

4.95%

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

$184 $184

$259 $259

-28.85%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$71.1 $71.1

-15.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 $62.4

$79.4 $79.4

-21.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$59.8 $59.8

133.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.0 $65.0

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$13.14 $13.14

54.72%

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

$3,153 $3,153

$1,109 $1,109

184.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.8K $56.8K

$15.4K $15.4K

269.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$54.8 $54.8

24.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.89 $47.89

$39.53 $39.53

21.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$85.5 $85.5

34.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$105 $105

65.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,125 $4,125

$1,713 $1,713

140.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,685 $2,685

$1,289 $1,289

108.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,262 $8,262

$2,368 $2,368

248.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,258 $5,258

$2,402 $2,402

118.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$1,598 $1,598

304.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,584 $5,584

$4,239 $4,239

31.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.46

-0.31%

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

Last update for New York, NY: July 25, 2026

Last update for Surprise, AZ: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,125 in New York, NY versus $1,713 in Surprise, AZ. 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 32% 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 $146 in New York, NY versus $80.0 in Surprise, AZ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $555 vs $391 – making Surprise, AZ 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 Surprise, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 63% more than Surprise, AZ, 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 $6,664 per month in New York, NY and $4,096 in Surprise, AZ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $3,153 per month in New York, NY and $1,109 in Surprise, AZ. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% more in New York, NY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,443 in New York, NY and $2,730 in Surprise, AZ. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Surprise, AZ costs $2,730 versus $4,443 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 Surprise, AZ. 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.