Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Monica, CA and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Monica, CA and New York, NY

🙂 Solo nomad: Santa Monica, CA is 23.3% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 0.4% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Santa Monica, CA is 27.2% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 0.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.29 $25.29

$29.68 $29.68

-14.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$144 $144

-31.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.3 $12.3

$12.43 $12.43

-1.05%

Cappuccino

$5.68 $5.68

$5.84 $5.84

-2.74%

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

$2.88 $2.88

$3.26 $3.26

-11.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.3 $2.3

$2.58 $2.58

-10.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.59 $8.59

$8.24 $8.24

4.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.32 $9.32

$11.86 $11.86

-21.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.56 $1.56

-24.36%

White Bread (500g)

$4.45 $4.45

$5.23 $5.23

-14.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$8.11 $8.11

-44.64%

Eggs

$7.19 $7.19

$7.25 $7.25

-0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.47 $12.47

$17.08 $17.08

-26.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.7 $13.7

$16.24 $16.24

-15.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.46 $14.46

$20.02 $20.02

-27.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$7.49 $7.49

-28.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.55 $2.55

-23.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$5.82 $5.82

-31.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$6.52 $6.52

-12.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.72 $3.72

-19.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$3.9 $3.9

-37.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 $1.82

$3.07 $3.07

-40.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.57 $2.57

-17.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.83 $10.83

$19.21 $19.21

-43.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$17.79 $17.79

-14.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.01 $3.01

-15.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.34 $5.34

$3.72 $3.72

43.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.92 $2.92

-28.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.5 $81.5

$134 $134

-39.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 $3.15

$5.13 $5.13

-38.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.15 $2.15

-20.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.08 $29.08

$41.57 $41.57

-30.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$0.95 $0.95

30.53%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

$35K $35K

-31.94%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$27.7K $27.7K

-7.98%

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

$190 $190

$179 $179

6.20%

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

$58.4 $58.4

$60 $60

-2.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67 $67

$63.8 $63.8

5.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 $122

$141 $141

-13.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.73 $44.73

$63.9 $63.9

-30.00%

Cinema Ticket

$18.03 $18.03

$19.9 $19.9

-9.40%

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

$1,791 $1,791

$3,206 $3,206

-44.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K $14.7K

$56.5K $56.5K

-73.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.8 $62.8

$65.7 $65.7

-4.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.08 $34.08

$48.75 $48.75

-30.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$111 $111

-8.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$172 $172

-10.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,279 $3,279

$4,165 $4,165

-21.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,892 $2,892

$2,653 $2,653

8.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,850 $6,850

$8,412 $8,412

-18.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,897 $5,897

$5,277 $5,277

11.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.8K $10.8K

$15.6K $15.6K

-30.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,171 $8,171

$11.2K $11.2K

-26.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,229 $7,229

$5,616 $5,616

28.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.44

0.78%

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

Last update for Santa Monica, CA: October 27, 2025

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

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