Cost of Living

New York, United States

Live cost-of-living data for New York — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
100/ 100New York baseline
$5,344/mo
Median Income
72/100
Safety
37%
Income Tax
humid subtropical
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
95/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center/Manhattan)$5,161/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center/Outer Boroughs)$3,000/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center/Manhattan)$8,080/month
Food & Groceries
75/100
Milk (1 liter)$5.43/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$4.5/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$3.5/kg
Transportation
60/100
Monthly Transit Pass$120/month
One-Way Ticket$2.9/trip
Taxi (1 km)$3.5/km
Utilities
70/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$275/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$75/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$65/month
Healthcare
75/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$200/visit
Dentist Visit$185/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$35/course
Education
80/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$1,800/month
International Primary School (yearly)$35,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$1,500/course
Entertainment
75/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$19.36/ticket
Theater Ticket$120/ticket
Museum Entry$28/ticket
Clothing
70/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$85/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$55/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$120/pair
Personal Care
65/100
Haircut (Men)$29.32/cut
Haircut (Women)$65/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$8.5/bottle
Dining Out
80/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$18/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$80/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$12/meal
Childcare
75/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$2,200/month
Babysitter (per hour)$25/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$35/pack
Fitness & Sports
65/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$85/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$45/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$15/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

450 Mbps
Internet Speed
$400
Coworking/Month
excellent
Café WiFi
high
English Level
large
Nomad Community
89/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, Upper East Side

Frequently Asked Questions

Is New York cheap to live in?

New York has a cost of living index of 100/100, where New York = 100. It is our New York baseline for cost of living. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $3,580–$5,012 per month.

How much does rent cost in New York?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of New York costs approximately $5,161/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $3,000/month.

Is New York good for digital nomads?

New York has a large digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 450 Mbps, café wifi reliability is excellent, and coworking spaces run about $400/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in New York?

The median net monthly salary in New York is approximately $5,344 USD. The income tax rate is around 37%.

How does New York compare to New York for cost of living?

New York (cost index 100) is our New York baseline than New York (cost index 100).

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