✦ Cost of living

New York

New York, New York

154

Overall cost index
US = 100

$3,800

Median 1-bedroom rent

+54%

54% above the US average

In plain terms: New York is about 54% pricier than a typical US city. A one-bedroom in the centre runs around $3,800/month.

Cities in United States →

▤ Category breakdown

Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.

Housing232+132%
Food & groceries118+18%
Transport122+22%
Utilities108+8%
Healthcare105+5%
Goods & services128+28%

About

“The Big Apple”

The benchmark against which everywhere else feels cheap. World-class salaries and everything else, offset by the highest rents in the dataset.

Currency: US dollar · USD
Languages: English
Coordinates: 40.71, -74.01
Emergency: 911

What things cost

1-bed, city centre$3,800 /mo

1-bed, outside centre$2,600 /mo

Inexpensive meal$25

Dinner for two, mid-range$120

Cappuccino$5.5

Monthly transit pass$132

Taxi per km$2 /km

Utilities (85 m²)$180 /mo

Internet, 100 Mbps$65 /mo

Gym membership$100 /mo

Taxes

37%

Income tax

progressive

VAT / sales

7.65%

Social (employee)

21%

Corporate

20%

Capital gains

$4,300

Avg net salary

per month

Federal; states add 0–13.3% on top.

Visas & residency

Employment-based (H-1B, L-1, O-1) and family routes; famously hard for the green card.

✈ N/A for immigration; ESTA for short visits from VWP countries.

H-1B specialty workerwork

Lottery-based, employer-sponsored.

Max stay: 73 months

O-1 extraordinary abilitywork

For top talent; no lottery.

Green Card (permanent residence)residence

Citizenship after ~5 yrs. Naturalization after 5 years as LPR (3 if married to citizen).

Quality of life

Safety

55/100

Healthcare

78/100

Pollution

55/100

Internet

200 Mbps

Jan avg

0 °C

Jul avg

+25 °C

Sunny days

234/yr

Walkability

90/100

Relocation & documents

Coming soon

Where to look

RentStreetEasyBuyStreetEasyFlightsSkyscannerInsuranceSafetyWingCoworkingWeWork

Updated: 2026-08-14 · Sources: Cost/quality survey (placeholder) · National tax authority / OECD (headline figures)

? Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in New York, NY?

New York, NY's cost-of-living index is 154 (US average = 100) — about 54% more expensive than a typical US city. A one-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around $3,800 per month.

What is the average rent in New York, NY?

A one-bedroom in the city centre averages about $3,800 per month, and around $2,600 outside the centre.

What taxes would I pay in United States?

United States has a top income-tax rate of 37% and a VAT or sales tax of 0%. See the taxes section above for the full breakdown.

What is the weather like in New York, NY?

New York, NY averages around 0 °C in January and +25 °C in July, with roughly 234 sunny days a year.

❖ Compare New York with…

New York vs San Francisco New York vs Los Angeles New York vs San Diego New York vs Seattle New York vs Boston New York vs Washington New York vs Chicago New York vs Miami New York vs Austin New York vs Dallas New York vs Houston New York vs Denver New York vs Phoenix New York vs Atlanta New York vs Portland New York vs Philadelphia New York vs Nashville New York vs Minneapolis New York vs Charlotte New York vs Las Vegas New York vs Detroit New York vs San Antonio New York vs Columbus New York vs London New York vs Paris New York vs Berlin New York vs Munich New York vs Amsterdam New York vs Dublin New York vs Madrid New York vs Barcelona New York vs Lisbon New York vs Rome New York vs Milan New York vs Zurich New York vs Toronto New York vs Vancouver New York vs Dubai New York vs Singapore New York vs Tokyo New York vs Sydney New York vs Melbourne New York vs Bangkok New York vs Mexico City New York vs Warsaw New York vs Buenos Aires New York vs Mumbai New York vs Bishkek

Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.

New York 🇺🇸