Cost of Living Comparison Between Newton, MA and Staten Island, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Newton, MA and Staten Island, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,475 per month in Newton, MA vs $3,012 in Staten Island, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,002 per month in Newton, MA vs $4,522 in Staten Island, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,530 per month in Newton, MA vs $6,032 in Staten Island, NY, rent included.

Newton, MA costs about 15% more than Staten Island, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Newton, MA and Staten Island, NY sit above the global median – Newton, MA by 154%, Staten Island, NY by 120%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Newton, MA
Staten Island, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.55 $29.55
$23.46 $23.46
25.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119 $119
$86.4 $86.4
37.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.86 $11.86
$13.26 $13.26
-10.56%
Cappuccino
$6.34 $6.34
$6.17 $6.17
2.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 $3.02
$2.65 $2.65
13.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$1.66 $1.66
40.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.18 $8.18
$8.10 $8.10
0.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.98 $7.98
$7.96 $7.96
0.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Newton, MA
Staten Island, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.29 $1.29
-6.98%
White Bread (500g)
$4.58 $4.58
$4.69 $4.69
-2.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.54 $6.54
$6.46 $6.46
1.24%
Eggs
$4.26 $4.26
$5.71 $5.71
-25.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.47 $19.47
$17.67 $17.67
10.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.05 $11.05
$13.94 $13.94
-20.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.13 $16.13
$19.66 $19.66
-17.96%
Apples (1kg)
$5.13 $5.13
$6.07 $6.07
-15.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$3.58 $3.58
-51.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.59 $5.59
$5.73 $5.73
-2.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.59 $6.59
$6.35 $6.35
3.78%
Potato (1kg)
$3.71 $3.71
$3.40 $3.40
9.12%
Onion (1kg)
$3.95 $3.95
$4.11 $4.11
-3.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.79 $2.79
-0.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$2.76 $2.76
-9.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.29 $12.29
$19.37 $19.37
-36.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.31 $16.31
$15.12 $15.12
7.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.76 $1.76
5.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 $2.70
$3.54 $3.54
-23.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Newton, MA
Staten Island, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.34 $2.34
$2.97 $2.97
-21.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$91.0 $91.0
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.92 $2.92
-32.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 $1.57
$2.23 $2.23
-29.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.07 $11.07
$41.68 $41.68
-73.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.01 $1.01
-9.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K $36.9K
$35.4K $35.4K
4.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$24.8K $24.8K
3.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Newton, MA
Staten Island, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$262 $262
$229 $229
14.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.5 $54.5
$73.3 $73.3
-25.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.7 $78.7
$65.4 $65.4
20.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Newton, MA
Staten Island, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.4 $65.4
$116 $116
-43.59%
Cinema Ticket
$15.34 $15.34
$20.20 $20.20
-24.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Newton, MA
Staten Island, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,892 $2,892
$2,001 $2,001
44.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.4K $35.4K
$15.7K $15.7K
124.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Newton, MA
Staten Island, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.5 $73.5
$71.9 $71.9
2.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1 $50.1
$37.52 $37.52
33.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 $112
$104 $104
7.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 $135
$105 $105
28.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Newton, MA
Staten Island, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,850 $1,850
$1,842 $1,842
0.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,848 $1,848
$1,420 $1,420
30.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,151 $5,151
$3,348 $3,348
53.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,590 $4,590
$2,435 $2,435
88.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,008 $6,008
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,362 $5,362
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Newton, MA
Staten Island, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,801 $7,801
$6,729 $6,729
15.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.25
6.33
-1.26%

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

Last update for Newton, MA: September 15, 2026

Last update for Staten Island, NY: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,850 in Newton, MA versus $1,842 in Staten Island, 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 16% higher in Newton, MA, 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 $119 in Newton, MA versus $86.0 in Staten Island, NY. Groceries tell a different story – $462 in Newton, MA vs $505 in Staten Island, NY – so Newton, MA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Newton, MA vs Staten Island, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Newton, MA and in Staten Island, NY compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,475 in Newton, MA, $3,012 in Staten Island, NY – roughly 15% apart. Newton, MA costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Newton, MA compared to Staten Island, NY?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,212 per month in Newton, MA and $4,518 in Staten Island, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Newton, MA and Staten Island, NY?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Staten Island, NY, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $119 in Newton, MA and $86.0 in Staten Island, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Newton, MA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,475 in Newton, MA and $3,012 in Staten Island, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Where should families live: Newton, MA or Staten Island, NY?
Families tend to lean toward Staten Island, NY – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Newton, MA or Staten Island, NY safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Newton, MA and Staten Island, NY?
If budget matters most, go with Staten Island, NY. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Newton, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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