Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Syracuse, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Syracuse, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,792 per month in New York, NY vs $3,008 in Syracuse, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,961 per month in New York, NY vs $4,104 in Syracuse, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,130 per month in New York, NY vs $5,199 in Syracuse, NY, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 59% more than Syracuse, NY, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both New York, NY and Syracuse, NY sit above the global median – New York, NY by 253%, Syracuse, NY by 122%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.99 $24.99

$18.22 $18.22

37.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$141 $141

$77.4 $77.4

82.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.12 $13.12

$11.78 $11.78

11.38%

Cappuccino

$6.36 $6.36

$6.25 $6.25

1.76%

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

$3.59 $3.59

$2.75 $2.75

30.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.07 $2.07

36.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$7.06 $7.06

10.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.97 $9.97

$7.47 $7.47

33.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$0.99 $0.99

34.34%

White Bread (500g)

$4.49 $4.49

$3.40 $3.40

32.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.57 $6.57

$5.28 $5.28

24.43%

Eggs

$5.50 $5.50

$3.93 $3.93

39.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.60 $16.60

$11.12 $11.12

49.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$13.75 $13.75

3.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.33 $17.33

$18.25 $18.25

-5.04%

Apples (1kg)

$6.15 $6.15

$6.47 $6.47

-4.95%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.43 $1.43

50.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$5.33 $5.33

6.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.90 $5.90

$6.75 $6.75

-12.59%

Potato (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.73 $3.73

-9.38%

Onion (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.77 $3.77

5.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.94 $2.94

-10.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.64 $2.64

-6.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.63 $18.63

$14.64 $14.64

27.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.29 $20.29

$14.85 $14.85

36.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.24 $3.24

$2.92 $2.92

10.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

$4.84 $4.84

-20.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.69 $2.69

12.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 $140

$114 $114

22.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 $2.96

$3.85 $3.85

-23.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.18 $2.18

0.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.75 $42.75

$29.49 $29.49

44.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.05 $1.05

5.71%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$36.0K $36.0K

-1.33%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.1K $26.1K

-2.77%

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

$255 $255

$236 $236

8.22%

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

$73.4 $73.4

$57.6 $57.6

27.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.5 $76.5

$72.9 $72.9

4.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$113 $113

$52.3 $52.3

116.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$61.4 $61.4

$32.28 $32.28

90.21%

Cinema Ticket

$21.66 $21.66

$14.85 $14.85

45.86%

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

$3,394 $3,394

$1,693 $1,693

100.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$59.5K $59.5K

$17.4K $17.4K

241.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$54.7 $54.7

26.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$47.55 $47.55

8.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$95.8 $95.8

20.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$121 $121

3.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,487 $4,487

$1,719 $1,719

161.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,949 $2,949

$1,492 $1,492

97.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,808 $8,808

$3,127 $3,127

181.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,137 $5,137

$1,826 $1,826

181.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.5K $18.5K

$1,751 $1,751

953.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 $6,500

$1,927 $1,927

237.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,300 $5,300

$3,532 $3,532

50.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.35

6.03

5.31%

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

Last update for New York, NY: August 2, 2026

Last update for Syracuse, NY: August 3, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,487 in New York, NY versus $1,719 in Syracuse, 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 50% 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 $141 in New York, NY versus $77.0 in Syracuse, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $498 vs $450 – making Syracuse, 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 Syracuse, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 59% more than Syracuse, NY, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,188 per month in New York, NY and $4,512 in Syracuse, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $3,394 per month in New York, NY and $1,693 in Syracuse, NY. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,792 in New York, NY and $3,008 in Syracuse, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Syracuse, NY costs $3,008 versus $4,792 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 Syracuse, 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.