United States
The iconic metropolis known for Times Square, Central Park, and world-class dining. A fast-paced cultural melting pot with endless career opportunities and a legendary nightlife scene.
#8 of 250
163% above average
Monthly cost, one adult
$ 3 805
Based on NYC = 100 index
New York City is the 8. most expensive of the 250 cities we track — a month here comes to $ 3 805 for one adult.
Most of that goes on housing, which runs 164% above the median city and adds $ 1 708 a month: 1br apartment (city center) $ 3 600, 1br apartment (outside center) $ 1 900. It is also pricier than usual for restaurants.
Cheaper here than almost anywhere else is clothing, 43% below the median: jeans (levis or similar) $ 55, summer dress (chain store) $ 38.
Percentages compare this city against the median of all tracked cities, category by category.
37 prices on this page come from live scrapers (15 sources, observed October 7, 2026 to October 13, 2026). They are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit CostCompass and link this page.
CostCompass (2026). Cost of living in New York City, United States. Data as of 2026-10-14. https://costcompass.net/living/cities/new-york-city. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
| Item | Price (USD) | Observations | Last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (City Center) | 3,600.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Craigslist |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside Center) | 1,899.50 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Craigslist |
| 3BR Apartment (City Center) | 5,825.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Craigslist |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside Center) | 2,875.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Craigslist |
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | 9.20 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Pork (1kg) | 9.35 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Beef (1kg) | 15.78 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Deli Meat / Ham (1kg) | 9.71 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Milk (1 liter) | 1.12 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Yogurt (150g) | 1.05 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Cheese (1kg) | 13.19 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Butter (200g) | 1.77 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Eggs (12) | 2.27 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Bread (500g) | 2.01 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Pasta (500g) | 1.51 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Rice (1kg) | 2.45 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Potatoes (1kg) | 2.15 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | 4.36 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 2.06 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Banana (1kg) | 1.44 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Oranges (1kg) | 3.77 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Flour (1kg) | 1.21 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Sugar (1kg) | 2.26 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Coffee (250g) | 5.13 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| One-way Ticket | 3.00 / trip | 1 | 2026-10-13 | City Transit Fares |
| Taxi Start | 3.00 / trip | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Official Taxi Tariffs |
| Taxi 1km | 2.17 / km | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Official Taxi Tariffs |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 1.15 / liter | 1 | 2026-10-13 | EIA Weekly Retail Gasoline |
| Basic Utilities (85m2 Apt) | 85.79 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Official Electricity Tariffs |
| Mobile Plan (10GB+) | 35.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Telecom Operators |
| Internet (60 Mbps+) | 50.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | T-Mobile Home Internet |
| Fitness Club (Monthly) | 77.43 / month | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Americas Entertainment Chains, Gym Chains |
| Cinema Ticket | 18.00 / ticket | 1 | 2026-10-07 | Cinema Ticket Prices |
| Doctor Visit (15 min) | 175.00 / visit | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Private Clinics & Telehealth |
| Cold Medicine (6 days) | 6.90 / item | 1 | 2026-10-07 | Global Local Pharmacies |
| Jeans (Levis or Similar) | 54.61 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Uniqlo, H&M |
| Summer Dress (Chain Store) | 37.95 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Uniqlo, H&M |
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Monthly average costs by category
$ 2 750
per month
$ 154
per month
$ 418
per month
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per month
$ 171
per month
$ 143
per month
$ 91
per month
$ 15
per month