Cost Comparison • Lifestyle Analysis • Financial Planning
Cost of Living
NYC vs Europe: A Comprehensive Comparison
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100 m² Apartment Cost in Bitcoin (real-time)
NYC Cost of Living Breakdown (2025)
Monthly expenses for a couple in NYC average $6,000–$8,000, with key components including:
Housing & Utilities
- Rent: $3,500–$5,000/month
- Utilities: $150–$250/month
- Internet & Phone: $200–$300/month
Daily Expenses
- Groceries: $400–$600/month
- Transportation: $264/month (MetroCard)
- Healthcare: $700–$1,500/month
- Entertainment: $200–$500/month
Monaco
Monthly Cost: $8,000–$12,000 (20-50% more expensive than NYC)
- Housing: $4,000–$6,000/month
- Utilities: $200–$400/month
- Groceries: $500–$800/month
- Transport: $100–$200/month
- Healthcare: $1,000–$2,000/month
- Leisure: $400–$800/month
Zug, Switzerland
Monthly Cost: $6,000–$8,000 (comparable to NYC)
- Housing: $2,500–$3,500/month
- Utilities: $200–$350/month
- Groceries: $600–$900/month
- Transport: $160–$240/month
- Healthcare: $800–$1,600/month
- Leisure: $300–$600/month
Amsterdam
Monthly Cost: $3,500–$5,000 (30-50% cheaper than NYC)
- Housing: $1,500–$2,200/month
- Utilities: $150–$300/month
- Groceries: $350–$550/month
- Transport: $160–$240/month
- Healthcare: $300–$500/month
- Leisure: $200–$450/month
Bordeaux
Monthly Cost: $3,000–$4,500 (40-60% cheaper than NYC)
- Housing: $700–$1,200/month
- Utilities: $150–$250/month
- Groceries: $350–$500/month
- Transport: $80–$120/month
- Healthcare: $50–$200/month
- Leisure: $200–$400/month
Marbella
Monthly Cost: $2,600–$3,600 (50-60% cheaper than NYC)
- Housing: $1,000–$1,400/month
- Utilities: $120–$200/month
- Groceries: $300–$450/month
- Transport: $60–$100/month
- Healthcare: $50–$200/month
- Leisure: $200–$400/month
Lisbon
Monthly Cost: $2,500–$3,500 (50-65% cheaper than NYC)
- Housing: $800–$1,500/month
- Utilities: $130–$300/month
- Groceries: $300–$450/month
- Transport: $80/month
- Healthcare: $30–$300/month
- Leisure: $150–$350/month
Key Insights
Most Affordable
Lisbon and Marbella offer the lowest costs ($2,500-3,600/month), with excellent public healthcare and affordable housing.
Mid-Range Options
Bordeaux and Amsterdam ($3,000-5,000/month) provide a balance of affordability and quality of life with robust public services.
Premium Destinations
Monaco ($8,000-12,000/month) and Zug ($6,000-8,000/month) offer luxury living with high costs offset by tax benefits and high salaries.
Real Estate Cost Comparison (2025)
Average cost of an apartment per square meter (m²) in USD, city center, 2025. Data: Numbeo, Expatistan, Global Property Guide, and others.
| City | Cost per m² (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bordeaux | $5,000–$6,000 | Suburbs ~20–30% cheaper |
| Lisbon | $4,500–$5,500 | Suburbs ~$2,500–$3,500; rising demand |
| Marbella | $3,500–$4,500 | Golden Mile ~$5,000; suburbs ~$3,000 |
| Zug | $10,000–$12,000 | High due to corporate hub; suburbs ~$8,000 |
| Monaco | $45,000–$55,000 | World's priciest; luxury-focused market |
| Amsterdam | $6,000–$8,000 | Canal belt ~$9,000; Noord ~$5,000 |
| NYC | $14,000–$18,000 | Manhattan ~$20,000; Brooklyn ~$10,000 |
Cheapest
Marbella ($3,500–$4,500/m²) and Lisbon ($4,500–$5,500/m²) are the most affordable, reflecting Southern Europe's lower property costs.
Most Expensive
Monaco ($45,000–$55,000/m²) dwarfs all others, followed by NYC ($14,000–$18,000/m²) and Zug ($10,000–$12,000/m²).
Mid-Range
Bordeaux ($5,000–$6,000/m²) and Amsterdam ($6,000–$8,000/m²) are moderately priced but face upward pressure from demand.
- NYC is 2–4x pricier than Bordeaux, Lisbon, Marbella, and Amsterdam but ~3–4x cheaper than Monaco. Zug is closer to NYC's lower end.
- Lisbon and Amsterdam see rising prices due to housing shortages and expat demand.
- Monaco and Zug cater to high-net-worth individuals, inflating costs. Marbella benefits from Spain's relatively low property prices.