Cost of Living Comparison Between Princeton, NJ and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Princeton, NJ and New York, NY

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Princeton, NJ is 8.5% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 14.8% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Princeton, NJ is 14.9% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 26.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Princeton, NJ
New York, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.19 $17.19
$29.68 $29.68
-42.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79 $79
$144 $144
-45.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.92 $14.92
$12.43 $12.43
20.03%
Cappuccino
$5.04 $5.04
$5.84 $5.84
-13.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$3.26 $3.26
-25.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.58 $2.58
-15.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.79 $7.79
$8.24 $8.24
-5.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.07 $8.07
$11.86 $11.86
-31.96%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Princeton, NJ
New York, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.1 $1.1
$1.56 $1.56
-29.49%
White Bread (500g)
$3.98 $3.98
$5.23 $5.23
-23.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.69 $8.69
$8.11 $8.11
7.15%
Eggs
$4.27 $4.27
$7.25 $7.25
-41.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.39 $25.39
$17.08 $17.08
48.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.26 $24.26
$16.24 $16.24
49.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.74 $22.74
$20.02 $20.02
13.59%
Apples (1kg)
$6.67 $6.67
$7.49 $7.49
-10.95%
Banana (1kg)
$2.59 $2.59
$2.55 $2.55
1.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.39 $5.39
$5.82 $5.82
-7.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.94 $5.94
$6.52 $6.52
-8.90%
Potato (1kg)
$2.8 $2.8
$3.72 $3.72
-24.73%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$3.9 $3.9
-5.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.48 $2.48
$3.07 $3.07
-19.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.57 $2.57
19.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.02 $11.02
$19.21 $19.21
-42.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.32 $19.32
$17.79 $17.79
8.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.7 $1.7
$3.01 $3.01
-43.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.2 $6.2
$3.72 $3.72
66.67%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Princeton, NJ
New York, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.92 $2.92
-26.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$203 $203
$134 $134
51.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.9 $5.9
$5.13 $5.13
15.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.41 $1.41
$2.15 $2.15
-34.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.5 $42.5
$41.57 $41.57
2.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$0.95 $0.95
-11.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$35K $35K
-14.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$27.7K $27.7K
-4.11%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Princeton, NJ
New York, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 $183
$179 $179
2.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.1 $51.1
$60 $60
-14.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56 $56
$63.8 $63.8
-12.22%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Princeton, NJ
New York, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$172 $172
$141 $141
22.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.65 $31.65
$63.9 $63.9
-50.47%
Cinema Ticket
$15.15 $15.15
$19.9 $19.9
-23.87%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Princeton, NJ
New York, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,867 $1,867
$3,206 $3,206
-41.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.7K $39.7K
$56.5K $56.5K
-29.63%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Princeton, NJ
New York, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.95 $36.95
$65.7 $65.7
-43.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.63 $23.63
$48.75 $48.75
-51.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$142 $142
$111 $111
27.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$204 $204
$172 $172
18.83%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Princeton, NJ
New York, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,654 $2,654
$4,165 $4,165
-36.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,905 $1,905
$2,653 $2,653
-28.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,561 $4,561
$8,412 $8,412
-45.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,108 $3,108
$5,277 $5,277
-41.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,490 $5,490
$15.6K $15.6K
-64.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,533 $3,533
$11.2K $11.2K
-68.34%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Princeton, NJ
New York, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,992 $5,992
$5,616 $5,616
6.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.44
1.71%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Princeton, NJ: October 28, 2025

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

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