🇺🇸 United States · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in New York City? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
One-bed apartment, Manhattan or prime BrooklynUSD 3,500–4,800 / month
One-bed apartment, outer Brooklyn or QueensUSD 2,300–3,200 / month
Employer health plan, employee contributionUSD 120–250 / month plus a deductible of USD 1,500–3,000
Federal per-diem meal allowance, one personUSD 26–38 — the federal per-diem meal allowance for New York City (GSA FY2026)
Electricity — Con Edison's average NYC residential billUSD 113–219 / month — Con Edison's own 2025 averages, USD 112.75 at 280 kWh and USD 218.55 at 600 kWh
Good to know
Population
≈8.3 million in the five boroughs; ≈19.5 million in the metro area
Languages
English; around 200 languages spoken citywide, and Spanish is a functional second language in much of the city
Currency
United States dollar (USD)
Time zone
EST (GMT-5); EDT (GMT-4) from mid-March to early November
Power plug
Types A and B, 120 V / 60 Hz — most of the world's 230 V appliances need more than an adapter
Climate
Humid subtropical — hot, humid summers, cold winters with snow, and nor'easters in late winter
Driving side
Right
Sales tax
8.875% added at the register, not shown on the shelf price
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized New York City checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to New York City
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.