🇺🇸Cost of Living in New York

United States · Population: 8,336,817 · Cost Index: 100/100

Cost of Living in New York

United States · North America

New York City is the most populous city in the United States and a global hub for finance, culture, media, and entertainment. Known for its iconic skyline, diverse neighborhoods, and world-class dining, NYC consistently ranks among the most expensive cities in the world.

8,336,817

Population

100

Cost Index

Safety Index

Quality of Life

Average Monthly Cost: $4,200 (single person, excluding rent)

Estimated monthly budget in New York

Typical total monthly cost by household type.

Single person

$4,200

per month

Couple

$6,300

per month

Family of 4

$8,820

per month

Student

$3,150

per month

Estimates based on the average cost of living in New York, scaled by household size. Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood and housing.

Cost Breakdown

Housing

Avg: $3,987.50

1-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)

$3,450.00

1-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)

$2,200.00

3-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)

$6,500.00

3-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)

$3,800.00

Food & Groceries

Avg: $18.57

Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant(per meal)

$25.00

Meal for 2 at Mid-Range Restaurant(per meal)

$110.00

McMeal at McDonald's(per meal)

$12.00

Milk (1 liter)(per liter)

$1.45

Bread (500g loaf)(per loaf)

$4.20

Rice (1 kg)(per kg)

$5.50

Eggs (12)(per dozen)

$4.80

Chicken Breast (1 kg)(per kg)

$14.50

Apples (1 kg)(per kg)

$6.20

Banana (1 kg)(per kg)

$2.10

Transportation

Avg: $28.33

Monthly Public Transit Pass(per month)

$132.00

One-Way Ticket (Local Transport)(per trip)

$2.90

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)(base fare)

$3.50

Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)(per km)

$2.20

Gasoline (1 liter)(per liter)

$1.05

Utilities

Avg: $104.33

Basic Utilities (85m² Apt)(per month)

$190.00

Mobile Phone Plan(per month)

$55.00

Internet (60 Mbps+)(per month)

$68.00

Healthcare

Avg: $168.33

Doctor Visit(per visit)

$250.00

Dentist Visit(per visit)

$200.00

Prescription Medicine (avg)(per prescription)

$55.00

Entertainment

Avg: $31.88

Fitness Club Monthly(per month)

$95.00

Cinema Ticket(per ticket)

$18.00

Cappuccino(per cup)

$5.50

Beer (0.5l) at Restaurant(per glass)

$9.00

Clothing

Avg: $64.00

Pair of Jeans (Levi's)(per pair)

$55.00

Summer Dress (Chain Store)(per item)

$42.00

Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas)(per pair)

$95.00

Popular New York comparisons

New York vs Los Angeles New York vs Chicago New York vs Houston New York vs Phoenix New York vs London New York vs Tokyo New York vs Singapore New York vs Dubai

Frequently asked questions about New York

Is New York expensive to live in?

New York has a cost of living index of 100 out of 100, where New York City scores 100. This makes it one of the most expensive cities we track.

How much money do you need to live in New York?

A single person needs an estimated $4,200 per month to live in New York, covering rent, food, transport and other essentials. A family or a more comfortable lifestyle will cost more.

What is the cost of living index in New York?

New York's cost of living index is 100 out of 100. The index is relative to New York City (100), so a score of 50 means overall costs are roughly half those of New York.

What is quality of life like in New York?

New York scores 62 out of 100 for quality of life and 55 out of 100 for safety in our index.

Data & sources

As an independent cross-check, the World Bank puts the overall price level in United States at 100 relative to the United States (=100) in 2024. View source

Cost figures on this site are independent estimates, cross-referenced with public data sources including World Bank, Numbeo, Eurostat, OECD.