Cost of Living in New York 2026 — Rent, Food, Transport and Monthly Budget Guide

Cost of Living in New York 2026

New York City is the most expensive city in the United States and one of the most expensive in the world, driven by ferocious demand for a finite housing stock on an island. Manhattan commands the highest rents, but outer boroughs like Brooklyn (especially Park Slope, Williamsburg, DUMBO), Queens (Astoria, Long Island City), and even the Bronx offer significantly better value while still being subway-connected. NYC's single greatest cost advantage over Los Angeles or Houston is that a car is genuinely unnecessary — the MTA subway runs 24 hours. The city's restaurant density (nearly 27,000 restaurants) means extraordinary food at every price point. This guide covers the realistic cost of living in New York City in 2026.

Rent and Housing

• 1-bedroom apartment, Manhattan (Midtown, Chelsea, UWS): USD 3,800-6,500/month (AUD 5,802-9,924); 1-bedroom apartment, Brooklyn (Williamsburg, Park Slope): USD 2,800-4,500/month (AUD 4,274-6,870); 1-bedroom apartment, Queens (Astoria, LIC): USD 2,200-3,400/month (AUD 3,358-5,191); 1-bedroom apartment, The Bronx (Riverdale, Fordham): USD 1,700-2,600/month (AUD 2,595-3,969); shared room (roommate), Brooklyn: USD 1,200-1,900/month (AUD 1,832-2,901); note: 1 AUD ≈ 0.655 USD at mid-2026 approximate rate

Food and Eating Out

• Bagel with cream cheese from a NYC bagel shop: USD 2.50-4.50 (AUD 3.82-6.87); dollar slice (NYC pizza slice): USD 3-5 (AUD 4.58-7.63); chopped cheese sandwich (Bodega staple): USD 6-10 (AUD 9.16-15.27); brunch for one (classic NYC Sunday): USD 25-50 (AUD 38.17-76.34); mid-range restaurant for two (no alcohol): USD 80-150 (AUD 122.14-229.01); cocktail at a Manhattan bar: USD 18-28 (AUD 27.48-42.75); weekly grocery shop (Trader Joe's, C-Town, Whole Foods): USD 100-200 (AUD 152.67-305.34)

Transport

• MTA subway/bus single ride (OMNY tap): USD 2.90 (AUD 4.43); unlimited monthly MetroCard: USD 132/month (AUD 201.53); no car needed for most NYC residents — saves USD 800-1,500/month vs. having a car in other US cities

Utilities

• Monthly electricity (Con Ed): USD 80-200 (AUD 122.14-305.34); internet (Verizon Fios, Spectrum 500Mbps): USD 50-80/month (AUD 76.34-122.14); mobile plan: USD 30-60/month (AUD 45.80-91.60)

Monthly Budget Summary

• Budget (outer borough roommate, home cooking, subway): USD 3,200-4,500/month (AUD 4,885-6,870); comfortable single Brooklyn or Queens 1-bed: USD 5,000-8,000/month (AUD 7,634-12,214); comfortable Manhattan lifestyle: USD 8,000-14,000/month (AUD 12,214-21,374); NYC's no-car advantage means the monthly cost gap with other expensive US cities is narrower than the rent numbers suggest — factor in car savings when comparing with LA or Miami

This article was compiled by AI and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.