Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Thousand Oaks, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Thousand Oaks, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,607 per month in New York, NY vs $3,866 in Thousand Oaks, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,137 per month in New York, NY vs $5,383 in Thousand Oaks, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,667 per month in New York, NY vs $6,899 in Thousand Oaks, CA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 19% more than Thousand Oaks, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both New York, NY and Thousand Oaks, CA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 236%, Thousand Oaks, CA by 182%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$25.23 $25.23

-1.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$139 $139

$98.5 $98.5

41.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.74 $12.74

$8.80 $8.80

44.77%

Cappuccino

$6.27 $6.27

$6.22 $6.22

0.80%

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

$3.73 $3.73

$3.22 $3.22

15.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.75 $2.75

7.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.10 $8.10

$7.02 $7.02

15.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.18 $10.18

$9.48 $9.48

7.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.36 $1.36

0.74%

White Bread (500g)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.10 $4.10

11.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.62 $6.62

$3.55 $3.55

86.48%

Eggs

$5.75 $5.75

$5.38 $5.38

6.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.18 $16.18

$14.00 $14.00

15.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.60 $14.60

$13.07 $13.07

11.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.50 $17.50

$20.07 $20.07

-12.81%

Apples (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$4.34 $4.34

34.56%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.90 $1.90

13.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.26 $4.26

38.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.15 $6.15

$5.00 $5.00

23.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.13 $3.13

7.03%

Onion (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$2.68 $2.68

50.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.61 $1.61

69.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.30 $2.30

6.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.76 $18.76

$10.04 $10.04

86.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.79 $19.79

$17.84 $17.84

10.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.74 $1.74

79.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 $4.06

$1.46 $1.46

178.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.96 $1.96

57.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$142 $142

$50.7 $50.7

180.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.96 $2.96

3.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.07 $2.07

7.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.81 $41.81

$27.85 $27.85

50.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.36 $1.36

-21.32%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$37.4K $37.4K

-5.61%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.3K $25.3K

0.95%

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

$232 $232

$158 $158

46.78%

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

$73.0 $73.0

$48.60 $48.60

50.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.4 $76.4

$80.9 $80.9

-5.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$120 $120

$67.5 $67.5

77.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$61.7 $61.7

$22.31 $22.31

176.56%

Cinema Ticket

$22.58 $22.58

$16.13 $16.13

39.99%

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

$3,415 $3,415

$1,765 $1,765

93.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$60.8K $60.8K

$36.8K $36.8K

64.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.4 $71.4

$49.10 $49.10

45.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$30.58 $30.58

70.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$114 $114

0.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 $125

$121 $121

3.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,270 $4,270

$2,595 $2,595

64.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,851 $2,851

$2,531 $2,531

12.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,755 $8,755

$3,942 $3,942

122.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,244 $5,244

$3,499 $3,499

49.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.0K $19.0K

$5,928 $5,928

220.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,412 $6,412

$5,950 $5,950

7.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,283 $5,283

$5,990 $5,990

-11.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.41

6.37

0.63%

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

Last update for New York, NY: August 18, 2026

Last update for Thousand Oaks, CA: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,270 in New York, NY versus $2,595 in Thousand Oaks, CA. 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 13% higher in Thousand Oaks, CA, 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 $139 in New York, NY versus $99.0 in Thousand Oaks, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $501 vs $429 – making Thousand Oaks, CA 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 Thousand Oaks, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 19% more than Thousand Oaks, CA, 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 $6,911 per month in New York, NY and $5,799 in Thousand Oaks, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $3,415 per month in New York, NY and $1,765 in Thousand Oaks, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $4,607 in New York, NY and $3,866 in Thousand Oaks, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Thousand Oaks, CA costs $3,866 versus $4,607 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 Thousand Oaks, CA. 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.