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

🙂 Solo nomad: San Rafael, CA is 15.1% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 0.8% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: San Rafael, CA is 28.3% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 31.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.73 $22.73

$29.68 $29.68

-23.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.9 $64.9

$144 $144

-54.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.05 $11.05

$12.43 $12.43

-11.10%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.84 $5.84

-1.20%

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

$2.6 $2.6

$3.26 $3.26

-20.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.58 $2.58

-0.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 $5.94

$8.24 $8.24

-27.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.47 $9.47

$11.86 $11.86

-20.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.56 $1.56

-18.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.96 $3.96

$5.23 $5.23

-24.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.91 $6.91

$8.11 $8.11

-14.80%

Eggs

$4.54 $4.54

$7.25 $7.25

-37.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.52 $15.52

$17.08 $17.08

-9.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.85 $12.85

$16.24 $16.24

-20.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.39 $18.39

$20.02 $20.02

-8.14%

Apples (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$7.49 $7.49

-33.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.55 $2.55

14.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.18 $6.18

$5.82 $5.82

6.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.42 $8.42

$6.52 $6.52

29.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$3.72 $3.72

1.08%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$3.9 $3.9

-2.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.5 $2.5

$3.07 $3.07

-18.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.57 $2.57

15.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.81 $10.81

$19.21 $19.21

-43.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.59 $12.59

$17.79 $17.79

-29.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.1 $2.1

$3.01 $3.01

-30.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.72 $3.72

-6.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.92 $2.92

-47.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.14 $30.14

$134 $134

-77.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.59 $3.59

$5.13 $5.13

-30.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.15 $2.15

-23.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.66 $28.66

$41.57 $41.57

-31.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$0.95 $0.95

29.47%

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

$27K $27K

$35K $35K

-23.02%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$27.7K $27.7K

-2.26%

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

$187 $187

$179 $179

4.50%

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

$51.3 $51.3

$60 $60

-14.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$63.8 $63.8

-3.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$247 $247

$141 $141

75.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.9 $39.9

$63.9 $63.9

-37.56%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$19.9 $19.9

-26.08%

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

$1,967 $1,967

$3,206 $3,206

-38.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$56.5K $56.5K

-58.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.12 $41.12

$65.7 $65.7

-37.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.89 $37.89

$48.75 $48.75

-22.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$111 $111

-8.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$172 $172

-28.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,340 $3,340

$4,165 $4,165

-19.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,833 $2,833

$2,653 $2,653

6.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,080 $4,080

$8,412 $8,412

-51.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,280 $3,280

$5,277 $5,277

-37.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,615 $7,615

$15.6K $15.6K

-51.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,279 $5,279

$11.2K $11.2K

-52.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,319 $5,319

$5,616 $5,616

-5.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

6.44

-1.86%

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

Last update for San Rafael, CA: October 28, 2025

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

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