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 $3,169 per month in Olten vs $4,878 in New York, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,940 per month in Olten vs $7,262 in New York, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,712 per month in Olten vs $9,645 in New York, NY, rent included.

Olten is about 35% cheaper than New York, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Olten and New York, NY sit above the global median – Olten by 131%, New York, NY by 255%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$34.18 CHF 27.65

$25.20 $25.20

35.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$123 CHF 99.9

$150 $150

-17.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$17.95 CHF 14.52

$13.98 $13.98

28.40%

Cappuccino

$6.59 CHF 5.33

$6.39 $6.39

3.13%

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

$5.56 CHF 4.50

$4.01 $4.01

38.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.52 CHF 4.46

$2.91 $2.91

89.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.34 CHF 7.56

$8.01 $8.01

16.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.56 CHF 6.12

$9.94 $9.94

-23.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 CHF 1.83

$1.33 $1.33

70.68%

White Bread (500g)

$3.99 CHF 3.22

$4.80 $4.80

-16.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.89 CHF 3.15

$6.81 $6.81

-42.88%

Eggs

$8.76 CHF 7.09

$5.67 $5.67

54.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.96 CHF 21.00

$16.66 $16.66

55.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$27.37 CHF 22.14

$14.82 $14.82

84.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$47.48 CHF 38.42

$18.90 $18.90

151.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.25 CHF 3.44

$6.03 $6.03

-29.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.83 CHF 2.29

$2.16 $2.16

31.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.07 CHF 2.48

$5.67 $5.67

-45.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 CHF 3.93

$6.07 $6.07

-19.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 CHF 2.17

$3.49 $3.49

-23.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.22 CHF 1.80

$4.14 $4.14

-46.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 CHF 2.01

$2.67 $2.67

-6.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 CHF 1.05

$2.56 $2.56

-49.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.06 CHF 8.95

$19.04 $19.04

-41.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.74 CHF 11.12

$19.73 $19.73

-30.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 CHF 2.22

$3.30 $3.30

-16.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 CHF 2.55

$3.97 $3.97

-20.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.41 CHF 4.37

$2.99 $2.99

80.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 CHF 88.6

$140 $140

-21.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.24 CHF 6.67

$2.94 $2.94

180.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.80 CHF 3.88

$2.12 $2.12

126.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$90.3 CHF 73.0

$41.24 $41.24

118.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.28 CHF 1.85

$1.11 $1.11

105.41%

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

$40.6K CHF 32.9K

$35.2K $35.2K

15.45%

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

$39.9K CHF 32.3K

$25.2K $25.2K

58.50%

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

$287 CHF 233

$218 $218

31.80%

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

$34.09 CHF 27.58

$76.5 $76.5

-55.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.15 CHF 39.76

$76.0 $76.0

-35.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.9 CHF 67.1

$128 $128

-35.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.2 $63.2

Cinema Ticket

$21.24 CHF 17.18

$23.94 $23.94

-11.28%

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

$3,643 CHF 2,947

$3,313 $3,313

9.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.8K CHF 34.6K

$60.8K $60.8K

-29.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$143 CHF 115

$74.0 $74.0

92.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.4 CHF 48.88

$56.3 $56.3

7.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$168 CHF 136

$116 $116

43.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$219 CHF 178

$130 $130

69.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,260 CHF 1,020

$4,391 $4,391

-71.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 CHF 856

$3,088 $3,088

-65.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,984 CHF 1,605

$9,291 $9,291

-78.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,954 CHF 1,581

$5,460 $5,460

-64.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,723 $6,723

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,404 CHF 3,563

$5,364 $5,364

-17.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.07

6.43

-67.81%

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

Last update for Olten: August 31, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,260 in Olten versus $4,391 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 22% 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 $123 in Olten versus $150 in New York, NY. Groceries tell a different story – $631 in Olten vs $512 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 54% more than Olten, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,754 per month in Olten and $7,317 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 $3,643 per month in Olten and $3,313 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 23% 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 $3,169 in Olten and $4,878 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 $3,169 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 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.