Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Waunakee, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Waunakee, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,878 per month in New York, NY vs $2,684 in Waunakee, WI, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,262 per month in New York, NY vs $3,895 in Waunakee, WI, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,645 per month in New York, NY vs $5,106 in Waunakee, WI, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 82% more than Waunakee, WI, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both New York, NY and Waunakee, WI sit above the global median – New York, NY by 255%, Waunakee, WI by 95%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.20 $25.20

$20.11 $20.11

25.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 $150

$79.1 $79.1

89.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.98 $13.98

$12.77 $12.77

9.48%

Cappuccino

$6.39 $6.39

$5.79 $5.79

10.36%

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

$4.01 $4.01

$3.08 $3.08

30.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.26 $2.26

28.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 $8.01

$7.10 $7.10

12.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.94 $9.94

$7.65 $7.65

29.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$0.99 $0.99

34.34%

White Bread (500g)

$4.80 $4.80

$3.90 $3.90

23.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.81 $6.81

$4.62 $4.62

47.40%

Eggs

$5.67 $5.67

$3.96 $3.96

43.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.66 $16.66

$15.27 $15.27

9.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.82 $14.82

$13.49 $13.49

9.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.90 $18.90

$19.85 $19.85

-4.79%

Apples (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$5.12 $5.12

17.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.59 $1.59

35.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$4.02 $4.02

41.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$4.84 $4.84

25.41%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.81 $2.81

24.20%

Onion (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$2.90 $2.90

42.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.13 $2.13

25.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.34 $2.34

9.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.04 $19.04

$10.54 $10.54

80.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.73 $19.73

$14.93 $14.93

32.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.58 $2.58

27.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.36 $3.36

18.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.08 $2.08

43.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 $140

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.32 $3.32

-11.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.38 $1.38

53.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.24 $41.24

$22.70 $22.70

81.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.04 $1.04

6.73%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$35.3K $35.3K

-0.31%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$25.4K $25.4K

-1.08%

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

$218 $218

$190 $190

14.79%

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

$76.5 $76.5

$69.3 $69.3

10.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.0 $76.0

$70.5 $70.5

7.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$128 $128

$41.58 $41.58

207.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.2 $63.2

Cinema Ticket

$23.94 $23.94

$14.97 $14.97

59.92%

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

$3,313 $3,313

$1,564 $1,564

111.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$60.8K $60.8K

$23.6K $23.6K

157.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.0 $74.0

$63.6 $63.6

16.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.3 $56.3

$49.83 $49.83

12.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$103 $103

12.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$120 $120

7.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,391 $4,391

$1,669 $1,669

163.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,088 $3,088

$1,188 $1,188

159.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,291 $9,291

$2,687 $2,687

245.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,460 $5,460

$2,354 $2,354

132.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

$2,771 $2,771

596.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,723 $6,723

$2,584 $2,584

160.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,364 $5,364

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.38

0.78%

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

Last update for New York, NY: August 29, 2026

Last update for Waunakee, WI: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,391 in New York, NY versus $1,669 in Waunakee, WI. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $150 in New York, NY versus $79.0 in Waunakee, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $512 vs $432 – making Waunakee, WI 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 Waunakee, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 82% more than Waunakee, WI, 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 $7,317 per month in New York, NY and $4,026 in Waunakee, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Waunakee, WI, 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 $4,878 in New York, NY and $2,684 in Waunakee, WI. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,313 per month in New York, NY and $1,564 in Waunakee, WI. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,878 in New York, NY and $2,684 in Waunakee, WI. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Waunakee, WI costs $2,684 versus $4,878 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 Waunakee, WI. 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.