Cost of Living in Brooklyn, NY, United States

Updated On December 30, 2025

How Much Does It Cost to Live In Brooklyn, NY?

A very well-known city in the United States is definitely Brooklyn and many people think that this is a nice place to reside.

Since there is no perfect place, we always want the best for us, so getting informed about the basic prices and possible salaries here, just to get familiar with what you will spend money on and how much would be sufficient is the most useful research that you can do before making a decision.

Cost of Living Index:
72.4
* Based on Research & User Data

United States FlagUnited States : Cost of Living by City

Cost of Living in United States
Restaurants

RESTAURANTS

The cost of living in Brooklyn might have increased in the past few years and the prices of restaurants were affected too, making them among the highest in the country.

Do not get surprised by the fact that restaurants frequently offer drinks that are very expensive.

Markets

MARKETS

The cost of living in Brooklyn can be more affordable if do not eat out.

Groceries can be bought at more affordable prices at local markets and food can be cooked at your own house.

This would be considered as the best solution for this expensive, yet crucial category of living.

Transportation

TRANSPORTATION

If you are in Brooklyn, you will definitely need to get around the city, either by bus, train, taxi, or car.

The fact is that the transportation rates are not very affordable as in some other cities in the United States, and the public transport fee is around $127 per month.

Utilities

UTILITIES (MONTHLY)

When it comes to utilities heating, cooling, and the Internet take the most money while mobile phone calls are quite cheap.

Other utilities are not expensive, and you can get all the basic services at the price of $148 per month which is considered affordable and reasonable.

Sports and leisure

SPORTS & LEISURE

If you are a sporty person, then you will need to devote much money to this leisure being that the prices of fitness clubs and tennis courts are rather expensive.

One month of exercising is $62 while only one hour of tennis costs $32.

Film lovers are able to afford cinemas at a price of $17.75.

Clothing and shoes

CLOTHING & SHOES

When trying to find quality clothes in Brooklyn, you can look at numerous boutiques and shopping centers where a pair of jeans cost around $59.86.

Leather is a bit more expensive as you will have to pay $83.3 for good leather shoes.

Rent per month

RENT PER MONTH

Living in the city center is around $800 more expensive, than in any other city and this amount can be used for some other expenses.

The family apartment would require quite a lot of money as it can be found at the price of almost $5500 in the city center which is considered too expensive.

Cost of Living Averages Table for Brooklyn, NY

*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.
Average Restaurant Prices
Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) $20.00
Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) $8.00
Water (0.33 Liter) $1.54
Average Market Prices
Milk (1 Liter) $1.28
Loaf Bread (500g) $4.47
Eggs (12) $5.00
Average Transport Prices
One Way Ticket $2.75
Monthly Pass $127.00
Gasoline $1.00
Average Utilities Prices
Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) $147.7
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local $0.10
Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) $62.50
Average Leisure Prices
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult $61.42
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) $31.25
Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release $17.75
Average Clothing Prices
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) $59.86
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) $41.11
1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) $83.3
Average Rent Prices
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center $2845.42
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center $2134.62
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center $5500.00

How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Brooklyn, NY?

People living there might find it expensive to afford all the daily necessities, due to the fact that they need to pay a huge amount for rent.

As a newcomer, you will have to find a place to live, so those who move from other less developed countries will definitely consider it an expensive and unaffordable place.

So as not to struggle with your living here, you can always make use of wise shopping and spend your money in markets rather than buying food at stores or eating out.

Average Costs Breakdown

11.2%
27%
7.2%
5%
4.4%
1.3%
43.9%

Brooklyn, NY: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages

When we make a comparison between the prices of rents and average salaries, it can be said that Brooklyn is not at all a cheap place for a living.

The monthly earnings are around the national average, but the prices are higher which causes people to have trouble making ends meet, especially those with the minimum salaries, which can be only $1256 per month.

The only way of leading a decent life here is to get at least the average salary and live modestly.

Average Salary$5127.41
Minimum Wage$1256.7
Mortgage Interest Rate6.70%

Brooklyn Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Brooklyn Safety Review

Safety Index:
74
Brooklyn
  • OVERALL RISK: LOW
  • TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
  • PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
  • NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
  • MUGGING RISK: HIGH
  • TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
  • SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
  • WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Cost of Living by City in United States

City Cost of Living Index
United States FlagAlbany, NY 72.4
United States FlagAlbuquerque, NM 72.4
United States FlagAnchorage, AK 72.4
United States FlagAnn Arbor, MI 72.4
United States FlagArlington, TX 72.4
United States FlagAsheville, NC 72.4
United States FlagAtlanta, GA 72.4
United States FlagAustin, TX 72.4
United States FlagBakersfield, CA 72.4
United States FlagBaltimore, MD 72.4
United States FlagBellevue, WA 72.4
United States FlagBellingham, WA 72.4
United States FlagBerkeley, CA 72.4
United States FlagBirmingham, AL 72.4
United States FlagBoise, ID 72.4
United States FlagBoston, MA 72.4
United States FlagBoulder, CO 72.4
United States FlagBuffalo, NY 72.4
United States FlagBurlington, VT 72.4
United States FlagCharleston, SC 72.4
United States FlagCharlotte, NC 73.33
United States FlagChattanooga, TN 72.4
United States FlagChicago, IL 72.4
United States FlagCincinnati, OH 72.4
United States FlagCleveland, OH 72.4
United States FlagColumbia, SC 72.4
United States FlagColumbus, OH 72.4
United States FlagDallas, TX 72.4
United States FlagDayton, OH 72.4
United States FlagDenver, CO 72.4
United States FlagDes Moines, IA 72.4
United States FlagDetroit, MI 72.4
United States FlagEl Paso, TX 72.4
United States FlagEugene, OR 72.4
United States FlagEverett, WA 72.4
United States FlagFayetteville, AR 72.4
United States FlagFort Myers, FL 72.4
United States FlagFort Wayne, IN 72.4
United States FlagFort Worth, TX 72.4
United States FlagFresno, CA 74.2
United States FlagGainesville, FL 74.2
United States FlagGrand Rapids, MI 74.2
United States FlagGreensboro, NC 74.2
United States FlagHartford, CT 74.2
United States FlagHonolulu, HI 74.2
United States FlagHouston, TX 74.2
United States FlagHuntsville, AL 74.2
United States FlagIndianapolis, IN 74.2
United States FlagIrvine, CA 74.2
United States FlagJacksonville, FL 74.2
United States FlagJersey City, NJ 74.2
United States FlagKansas City, MO 74.2
United States FlagKnoxville, TN 74.2
United States FlagLas Vegas, NV 74.2
United States FlagLexington, KY 74.2
United States FlagLittle Rock, AR 74.2
United States FlagLong Beach, CA 74.2
United States FlagLos Angeles, CA 74.2
United States FlagLouisville, KY 74.2
United States FlagLubbock, TX 74.2
United States FlagMadison, WI 74.2
United States FlagMemphis, TN 74.2
United States FlagMiami, FL 74.2
United States FlagMilwaukee, WI 74.2
United States FlagMinneapolis, MN 74.2
United States FlagNashville, TN 74.2
United States FlagNew Orleans, LA 74.2
United States FlagNew York, NY 74.2
United States FlagOakland, CA 74.2
United States FlagOklahoma City, OK 74.2
United States FlagOlympia, WA 74.2
United States FlagOrlando, FL 74.2
United States FlagPeoria, IL 72.4
United States FlagPhiladelphia, PA 72.4
United States FlagPhoenix, AZ 72.4
United States FlagPittsburgh, PA 72.4
United States FlagPortland, ME 72.4
United States FlagPortland, OR 72.4
United States FlagRaleigh, NC 72.4
United States FlagReno, NV 72.4
United States FlagRichmond, VA 74.2
United States FlagRochester, NY 74.2
United States FlagSacramento, CA 74.2
United States FlagSaint Louis, MO 74.2
United States FlagSaint Paul, MN 74.2
United States FlagSaint Petersburg, FL 74.2
United States FlagSalem, OR 74.2
United States FlagSalt Lake City, UT 74.2
United States FlagSan Antonio, TX 74.2
United States FlagSan Diego, CA 74.2
United States FlagSan Francisco, CA 74.2
United States FlagSan Jose, CA 74.2
United States FlagSanta Barbara, CA 74.2
United States FlagSanta Rosa, CA 74.2
United States FlagSeattle, WA 74.2
United States FlagSpokane, WA 74.2
United States FlagSpringfield, MO 74.2
United States FlagSyracuse, NY 74.2
United States FlagTacoma, WA 74.2
United States FlagTallahassee, FL 74.2
United States FlagTampa, FL 74.2
United States FlagToledo, OH 74.2
United States FlagTucson, AZ 74.2
United States FlagTulsa, OK 74.2
United States FlagVancouver, WA 74.2
United States FlagVirginia Beach, VA 74.2
United States FlagWashington, DC 74.2
United States FlagWest Palm Beach, FL 74.2
United States FlagWichita, KS 74.2

Where to Next?

Or, browse the country/city indexes:

Cost of Living - Country Index Cost of Living - City Index

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