Cost of Living in New York City, NY
| Cost of Living in New York City, NY | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 86% higher | 236% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 1% lower | 2% higher |
| Food | 7% higher | 11% higher |
| Healthcare | 6% higher | 13% higher |
| Transportation | 4% higher | 11% higher |
| Goods & Services | 9% higher | 19% higher |
The cost of living in New York City, NY is 38% higher than the state average and 76% higher than the national average. New York City, NY housing is 236% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 2% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 19% more in New York City, NY than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 19% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 13% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 19% pricier in New York City, NY.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in New York City is $4,416, while home prices circle around $1,670,540.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In New York City, energy bills cost around $213.20 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.87 in New York City, a dozen eggs go for around $4.34 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.09.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In New York City, an optometry check-up costs around $118.28, while a dentist appointment is priced $159.53 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.64 in New York City, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $73.42.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $36.68 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $36.03.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in New York City, you should budget around $16.27 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $32.39, while dry cleaning costs about $18.99.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In New York City, the median household income is $70,663.