Cost of living comparison
California is 8.2% more expensive than New York.
- Restaurants
-
pay 13.1% more in California
- Groceries
-
pay 3.0% more in California
- Transportation
-
pay 0.4% less in California
- Housing
-
pay 19.9% more in California
- Childcare
-
pay 18.9% more in California
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 0.8% more in California
- Clothing
-
pay 2.2% more in California
The cost of housing, childcare, restaurants, groceries, clothing, and entertainment and sports in California are more expensive than in New York.
If you lived in California instead of New York, you would:
pay 13.1% more for restaurants
|
New York
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$19.04
|
$21.02
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.50
|
$11.52
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.37
|
$2.71
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.83
|
$2.16
|
|
pay 3.0% more for groceries
|
New York
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.74
|
$4.14
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.35
|
$6.95
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.05
|
$4.61
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.87
|
$4.33
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.18
|
$5.70
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.36
|
$2.34
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.80
|
$0.92
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.10
|
$1.91
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.36
|
$2.38
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.54
|
$1.39
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.49
|
$1.44
|
|
pay 0.4% less for transportation
|
New York
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.60
|
$4.83
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$97.65
|
$62.05
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,535.81
|
$30,005.28
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$18.98
|
$20.07
|
|
pay 19.9% more for housing
|
New York
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$63.86
|
$68.54
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,925.71
|
$2,371.29
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,646.33
|
$2,055.18
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$138.03
|
$171.68
|
|
pay 18.9% more for childcare
|
New York
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,553.18
|
$1,682.51
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$23,861.84
|
$30,905.75
|
|
pay 0.8% more for entertainment and sports
|
New York
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.09
|
$7.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.84
|
$5.34
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$13.68
|
$10.91
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$63.42
|
$66.35
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.22
|
$14.41
|
|
pay 2.2% more for clothing
|
New York
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.08
|
$52.77
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$41.74
|
$40.15
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$82.58
|
$85.15
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$112.43
|
$117.31
|
|
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