Cost of Living Comparison Between Staten Island, NY and Newton, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Staten Island, NY and Newton, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,991 per month in Staten Island, NY vs $3,398 in Newton, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,613 per month in Staten Island, NY vs $5,248 in Newton, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,236 per month in Staten Island, NY vs $7,097 in Newton, MA, rent included.

Staten Island, NY is about 12% cheaper than Newton, MA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Staten Island, NY and Newton, MA sit above the global median – Staten Island, NY by 123%, Newton, MA by 154%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.76 $21.76

$24.95 $24.95

-12.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.9 $98.9

$102 $102

-2.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$11.22 $11.22

5.70%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.59 $5.59

3.58%

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

$2.35 $2.35

$2.70 $2.70

-12.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 $1.55

$2.17 $2.17

-28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.95 $7.95

$6.66 $6.66

19.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$7.88 $7.88

2.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.25 $1.25

24.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.50 $4.50

$4.05 $4.05

11.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.00 $8.00

$6.37 $6.37

25.59%

Eggs

$6.77 $6.77

$4.71 $4.71

43.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.11 $17.11

$20.01 $20.01

-14.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.44 $13.44

$13.05 $13.05

2.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.48 $20.48

$14.28 $14.28

43.42%

Apples (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$5.64 $5.64

14.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.93 $1.93

33.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.81 $5.81

$5.98 $5.98

-2.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$6.17 $6.17

5.19%

Potato (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$3.22 $3.22

18.32%

Onion (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.78 $3.78

5.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.44 $2.44

16.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.16 $2.16

31.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.38 $19.38

$13.70 $13.70

41.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.09 $15.09

$17.05 $17.05

-11.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.71 $1.71

5.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 $3.90

$2.53 $2.53

54.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.42 $2.42

22.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.4 $91.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.62 $2.62

12.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.75 $1.75

22.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.55 $41.55

$28.24 $28.24

47.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.94 $0.94

-4.26%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$28.5K $28.5K

22.87%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$25.6K $25.6K

7.46%

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

$216 $216

$185 $185

17.21%

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

$59.0 $59.0

$57.3 $57.3

2.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.1 $62.1

$69.3 $69.3

-10.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$115 $115

$64.2 $64.2

79.86%

Cinema Ticket

$20.05 $20.05

$12.77 $12.77

57.01%

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

$1,975 $1,975

$1,279 $1,279

54.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K $15.7K

$27.8K $27.8K

-43.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.3 $68.3

$66.7 $66.7

2.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.57 $37.57

$37.28 $37.28

0.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 $112

$92.3 $92.3

21.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$144 $144

-28.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,780 $1,780

$1,858 $1,858

-4.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,374 $1,374

$1,863 $1,863

-26.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,240 $3,240

$3,772 $3,772

-14.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$3,706 $3,706

-27.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,080 $6,080

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,326 $5,326

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,221 $6,221

$7,953 $7,953

-21.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.74

6.38

5.64%

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

Last update for Staten Island, NY: April 22, 2026

Last update for Newton, MA: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,780 in Staten Island, NY versus $1,858 in Newton, MA. 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 28% higher in Newton, MA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99 in Staten Island, NY versus $102 in Newton, MA. Groceries tell a different story – $515 in Staten Island, NY vs $461 in Newton, MA – so Newton, MA 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

Staten Island, NY vs Newton, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,991 in Staten Island, NY, $3,398 in Newton, MA – roughly 14% apart. Newton, MA costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,486 per month in Staten Island, NY and $5,097 in Newton, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Staten Island, NY, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Staten Island, NY and $102 in Newton, MA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Newton, MA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,991 in Staten Island, NY and $3,398 in Newton, MA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Staten Island, NY – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Staten Island, NY. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Newton, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.