Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and New York, NY

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: San Diego, CA is 21.4% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 10.4% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: San Diego, CA is 24.1% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 22.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
San Diego, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.95 $22.95
$29.68 $29.68
-22.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.8 $99.8
$144 $144
-30.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.8 $14.8
$12.43 $12.43
19.07%
Cappuccino
$6.07 $6.07
$5.84 $5.84
3.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$3.26 $3.26
-5.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$2.58 $2.58
0.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.88 $7.88
$8.24 $8.24
-4.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.95 $8.95
$11.86 $11.86
-24.54%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
San Diego, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.56 $1.56
-19.23%
White Bread (500g)
$4.5 $4.5
$5.23 $5.23
-13.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.42 $4.42
$8.11 $8.11
-45.50%
Eggs
$5.04 $5.04
$7.25 $7.25
-30.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.66 $13.66
$17.08 $17.08
-20.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.77 $12.77
$16.24 $16.24
-21.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.5 $18.5
$20.02 $20.02
-7.59%
Apples (1kg)
$4.6 $4.6
$7.49 $7.49
-38.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.55 $2.55
-32.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.92 $3.92
$5.82 $5.82
-32.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$6.52 $6.52
-27.45%
Potato (1kg)
$2.98 $2.98
$3.72 $3.72
-19.89%
Onion (1kg)
$2.47 $2.47
$3.9 $3.9
-36.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.27 $2.27
$3.07 $3.07
-26.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.5 $2.5
$2.57 $2.57
-2.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.2 $12.2
$19.21 $19.21
-36.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.29 $15.29
$17.79 $17.79
-14.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$3.01 $3.01
-41.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$3.72 $3.72
-31.72%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
San Diego, CA
New York, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.92 $2.92
-12.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.1 $72.1
$134 $134
-46.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.97 $2.97
$5.13 $5.13
-42.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.07 $2.07
$2.15 $2.15
-3.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.69 $27.69
$41.57 $41.57
-33.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$0.95 $0.95
32.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K $30.7K
$35K $35K
-12.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$27.7K $27.7K
-3.84%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Diego, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$275 $275
$179 $179
53.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67 $67
$60 $60
11.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.1 $79.1
$63.8 $63.8
23.99%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
San Diego, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.6 $66.6
$141 $141
-52.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.66 $24.66
$63.9 $63.9
-61.41%
Cinema Ticket
$15.76 $15.76
$19.9 $19.9
-20.80%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
San Diego, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,625 $1,625
$3,206 $3,206
-49.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.6K $28.6K
$56.5K $56.5K
-49.30%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
San Diego, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 $58.1
$65.7 $65.7
-11.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.8 $58.8
$48.75 $48.75
20.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98 $98
$111 $111
-11.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$172 $172
-32.56%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
San Diego, CA
New York, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,808 $2,808
$4,165 $4,165
-32.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,412 $2,412
$2,653 $2,653
-9.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,005 $5,005
$8,412 $8,412
-40.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,128 $4,128
$5,277 $5,277
-21.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,534 $9,534
$15.6K $15.6K
-38.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,940 $6,940
$11.2K $11.2K
-37.79%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
San Diego, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,341 $5,341
$5,616 $5,616
-4.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.39
6.44
-0.78%

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

Last update for San Diego, CA: October 29, 2025

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

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