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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,891 per month in San Rafael, CA vs $4,878 in New York, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,339 per month in San Rafael, CA vs $7,262 in New York, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,787 per month in San Rafael, CA vs $9,645 in New York, NY, rent included.

San Rafael, CA and New York, NY have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both San Rafael, CA and New York, NY sit above the global median – San Rafael, CA by 256%, New York, NY by 255%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$28.56 $28.56

$25.20 $25.20

13.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$112 $112

$150 $150

-25.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.06 $12.06

$13.98 $13.98

-13.73%

Cappuccino

$4.84 $4.84

$6.39 $6.39

-24.26%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$4.01 $4.01

-23.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.91 $2.91

4.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.89 $5.89

$8.01 $8.01

-26.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.95 $6.95

$9.94 $9.94

-30.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.33 $1.33

6.77%

White Bread (500g)

$4.34 $4.34

$4.80 $4.80

-9.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$9.80 $9.80

$6.81 $6.81

43.91%

Eggs

$5.50 $5.50

$5.67 $5.67

-3.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.06 $21.06

$16.66 $16.66

26.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.69 $16.69

$14.82 $14.82

12.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.04 $19.04

$18.90 $18.90

0.74%

Apples (1kg)

$7.25 $7.25

$6.03 $6.03

20.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.16 $2.16

33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.65 $6.65

$5.67 $5.67

17.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.64 $8.64

$6.07 $6.07

42.34%

Potato (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$3.49 $3.49

55.30%

Onion (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$4.14 $4.14

15.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.67 $2.67

14.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.56 $2.56

45.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.87 $10.87

$19.04 $19.04

-42.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.12 $14.12

$19.73 $19.73

-28.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$3.30 $3.30

-34.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 $3.23

$3.97 $3.97

-18.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.99 $2.99

-35.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.0 $64.0

$140 $140

-54.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.94 $2.94

37.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.12 $2.12

107.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.80 $28.80

$41.24 $41.24

-30.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.11 $1.11

19.82%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$35.2K $35.2K

-7.42%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.2K $25.2K

6.67%

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

$254 $254

$218 $218

16.38%

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

$82.7 $82.7

$76.5 $76.5

7.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$76.0 $76.0

-18.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 $122

$128 $128

-4.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.45 $29.45

$63.2 $63.2

-53.41%

Cinema Ticket

$14.18 $14.18

$23.94 $23.94

-40.77%

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

$2,076 $2,076

$3,313 $3,313

-37.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K $24.9K

$60.8K $60.8K

-59.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 $60.4

$74.0 $74.0

-18.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.93 $42.93

$56.3 $56.3

-23.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$116 $116

-17.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

0.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,319 $3,319

$4,391 $4,391

-24.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,166 $3,166

$3,088 $3,088

2.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,291 $4,291

$9,291 $9,291

-53.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,845 $3,845

$5,460 $5,460

-29.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,640 $7,640

$19.3K $19.3K

-60.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,471 $5,471

$6,723 $6,723

-18.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,085 $7,085

$5,364 $5,364

32.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

-6.69%

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

Last update for San Rafael, CA: August 31, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,319 in San Rafael, CA 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 32% higher in San Rafael, CA. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $112 in San Rafael, CA versus $150 in New York, NY. Groceries tell a different story – $574 in San Rafael, CA 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

San Rafael, CA vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,336 per month in San Rafael, CA 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 New York, NY, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in San Rafael, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $2,076 per month in San Rafael, CA 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.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,891 in San Rafael, CA 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. New York, NY costs $4,878 versus $4,891 in San Rafael, CA. 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 New York, NY. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Rafael, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.