Cost of Living in New York City, NY
New York City, NY scores 187 on the cost-of-living index — about 87% more expensive than the US average of 100, and #1 of 77 US cities we track.
Compare your salary: New York City vs any US city
Enter where you live now and what you earn — see the equivalent salary needed in New York City to keep the same standard of living.
Austin, TX is about 46.0% cheaper than New York City, NY. A $100,000 lifestyle costs roughly $54,011 there — so you can keep the same standard of living on less.
| Category | New York City | Austin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall index | 187 | 101 | −46% |
| Housing | 287 | 102 | −64% |
| Groceries | 137 | 100 | −27% |
| Utilities | 130 | 101 | −22% |
| Transportation | 120 | 101 | −16% |
| Healthcare | 128 | 100 | −22% |
New York City cost-of-living breakdown
| Category | Index | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 187 | +87% |
| Housing | 287 | +187% |
| Groceries | 137 | +37% |
| Utilities | 130 | +30% |
| Transportation | 120 | +20% |
| Healthcare | 128 | +28% |
Note These are approximate comparative estimates on a US-average = 100 scale (the C2ER/ACCRA and BestPlaces convention). Category sub-indices are modeled from the overall composite. Actual costs vary by neighborhood, household and lifestyle — treat the numbers as directional.
Frequently asked questions
Is New York City expensive to live in?
New York City, NY has a cost-of-living index of 187, where the US average is 100. That makes it about 87% more expensive than a typical US city, and ranks it #1 of 77 cities in our index. Housing is the biggest single factor, with a housing index of 287.
What is the cost-of-living index for New York City?
The overall index is 187 (US average = 100). By category: housing 287, groceries 137, utilities 130, transportation 120 and healthcare 128. A value above 100 means costlier than average; below 100 means cheaper.
How much salary do I need to live in New York City?
It depends on where you're moving from. Use the calculator above: enter your current city and salary, and it scales your pay by the ratio of the two cities' indices to show the equivalent salary needed in New York City to keep the same standard of living.
How is the New York City cost-of-living index calculated?
It is a comparative estimate on the same US-average = 100 scale used by the C2ER/ACCRA Cost of Living Index and BestPlaces, spanning housing, groceries, utilities, transportation and healthcare. Category sub-indices are modeled from the overall composite. These are approximate estimates — actual costs vary by neighborhood, household and lifestyle.
Which is the cheapest category in New York City?
In New York City, transportation is the most affordable category relative to the US average (index 120), while housing is the priciest (index 287).