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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,973 per month in Olten vs $4,415 in New York, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,526 per month in Olten vs $6,980 in New York, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,078 per month in Olten vs $9,544 in New York, NY, rent included.

Olten is about 33% cheaper than New York, NY, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Olten and New York, NY sit above the global median – Olten by 123%, New York, NY by 230%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.25 CHF 25.31

$29.48 $29.48

6.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$103 CHF 83.2

$143 $143

-28.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$17.04 CHF 13.81

$12.41 $12.41

37.31%

Cappuccino

$5.51 CHF 4.46

$6.08 $6.08

-9.38%

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

$5.20 CHF 4.21

$3.33 $3.33

56.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 CHF 3.65

$2.70 $2.70

67.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.27 CHF 5.89

$8.17 $8.17

-11.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.26 CHF 5.07

$12.04 $12.04

-48.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 CHF 1.67

$1.62 $1.62

27.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.42 CHF 2.77

$5.08 $5.08

-32.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.08 CHF 3.30

$8.12 $8.12

-49.75%

Eggs

$7.52 CHF 6.09

$6.87 $6.87

9.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.94 CHF 17.77

$17.61 $17.61

24.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$25.36 CHF 20.54

$16.41 $16.41

54.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$40.38 CHF 32.70

$19.81 $19.81

103.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.22 CHF 3.42

$7.66 $7.66

-44.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 CHF 2.04

$2.53 $2.53

-0.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 CHF 2.46

$5.61 $5.61

-45.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.04 CHF 4.08

$6.40 $6.40

-21.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.73 CHF 2.21

$3.84 $3.84

-28.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 CHF 1.86

$4.10 $4.10

-43.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CHF 2.07

$3.08 $3.08

-16.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 CHF 1.21

$2.49 $2.49

-40.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.01 CHF 8.92

$18.83 $18.83

-41.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.29 CHF 10.76

$19.67 $19.67

-32.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 CHF 1.67

$2.99 $2.99

-30.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 CHF 1.97

$3.75 $3.75

-35.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.86 CHF 3.13

$2.94 $2.94

31.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.2 CHF 79.6

$133 $133

-26.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 CHF 6.27

$5.05 $5.05

53.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.21 CHF 3.41

$2.20 $2.20

91.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$62.7 CHF 50.8

$42.75 $42.75

46.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.24 CHF 1.81

$0.97 $0.97

130.93%

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

$39.7K CHF 32.2K

$35.0K $35.0K

13.46%

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

$40.0K CHF 32.4K

$28.3K $28.3K

41.21%

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

$254 CHF 206

$182 $182

39.65%

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

$33.62 CHF 27.24

$60.3 $60.3

-44.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CHF 47.04

$63.5 $63.5

-8.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.4 CHF 50.5

$143 $143

-56.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.77 CHF 15.21

$63.6 $63.6

-70.50%

Cinema Ticket

$25.09 CHF 20.32

$19.89 $19.89

26.14%

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

$3,456 CHF 2,799

$3,129 $3,129

10.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.7K CHF 32.1K

$58.2K $58.2K

-31.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$139 CHF 113

$67.5 $67.5

106.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.7 CHF 49.15

$47.20 $47.20

28.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$146 CHF 118

$113 $113

29.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$198 CHF 160

$174 $174

13.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,256 CHF 1,017

$4,145 $4,145

-69.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 CHF 849

$2,693 $2,693

-61.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,956 CHF 1,585

$8,255 $8,255

-76.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,697 CHF 1,374

$5,298 $5,298

-67.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.6K CHF 11.8K

$18.5K $18.5K

-21.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$12.4K CHF 10.1K

$6,505 $6,505

91.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,205 CHF 3,406

$5,520 $5,520

-23.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.09

6.44

-67.55%

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

Last update for Olten: July 13, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,256 in Olten versus $4,145 in New York, 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 31% 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 $103 in Olten versus $143 in New York, NY. Groceries tell a different story – $571 in Olten vs $553 in New York, NY – so New York, NY 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

Olten vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 48% more than Olten, 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 $4,460 per month in Olten and $6,623 in New York, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $3,456 per month in Olten and $3,129 in New York, NY. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in New York, NY – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,973 in Olten and $4,415 in New York, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Olten costs $2,973 versus $4,415 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 Olten. 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.