New York City vs San Francisco
💰
New York City saves you $1,300/month
📶
San Francisco has 2x faster internet
🌡️
Continental vs Mediterranean climate
💰 Cost of Living Breakdown
Monthly expenses comparison in USD
Expense
New York City
San Francisco
Total Budget
$4,200/mo ✓
$5,500/mo
Rent (1BR)
$4,000/mo
$3,200/mo ✓
Coworking
$380/mo ✓
$470/mo
Meal Out
$20
$15 ✓
Coffee
$5 ✓
$6
New York City is $1,300/mo cheaper (24% savings)
💻 Remote Work Essentials
Internet, timezone, and language comparison
🇺🇸 New York City
📶 Internet300 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC-5
🗣️ Englishhigh
🛂 Nomad VisaNot available
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West8h
🇺🇸 US East8h
🇬🇧 London6h
🇩🇪 Berlin5h
🇺🇸 San Francisco
📶 Internet500 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC-8
🗣️ Englishhigh
🛂 Nomad VisaNot available
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West8h
🇺🇸 US East8h
🇬🇧 London3h
🇩🇪 Berlin2h
🌡️ Climate Comparison
Weather patterns and best times to visit
New York City
ClimateContinental
Avg Temp13°C
Rainy Days118/year
Best months: June, August, September, May
San Francisco
ClimateMediterranean
Avg Temp14°C
Rainy Days61/year
Best months: June, July, August, September
Quarterly Temperatures
Jan
1°11°
Apr
12°12°
Jul
26°16°
Oct
14°17°
New York CitySan Francisco
📊 Full Comparison
Category
🇺🇸New York City
🇺🇸San Francisco
💰
Monthly Budget
$4,200
Winner$5,500
📶
Internet Speed
300 Mbps
500 Mbps
Winner🛡️
Safety
3.6/5
3.5/5
⭐
Nomad Score
4.4/10
Winner3.8/10
🍽️
Food Scene
10/10
9/10
🎉
Nightlife
10/10
Winner8/10
🚶
Walkability
9/10
9/10
👥
Community
large
large
3
New York City wins
vs
1
San Francisco wins
Which City is Right for You?
Recommendations based on your nomad style
💵Budget Nomad
New York City
$1300/mo cheaper with similar quality of life
💻Developer
San Francisco
500 Mbps is essential for video calls & uploads
🦋Social Butterfly
Either works
Similar social opportunities
🛡️Safety-First
Either works
Both cities are similarly safe
🍜Foodie
Either works
Both have great food scenes
🎉Party Person
New York City
World-famous nightlife scene
🇺🇸New York City
Pros
- +One of the world's biggest hubs for tech, media, finance and the creative industries with endless networking opportunities
- +Insane cultural density: museums, galleries, concerts, theatre, comedy and events every single day
- +Fast, reliable internet and plenty of high-end coworking spaces across Manhattan and Brooklyn
- +Truly walkable core with a 24/7 subway system and good bus coverage
Cons
- −Extremely high cost of living and rent – one of the most expensive cities on the planet for long stays
- −Small apartments, high competition for housing and often long commutes from more affordable areas
- −Hot, humid summers and cold winters with heatwaves and snowstorms possible
- −Can feel intense, crowded and noisy; not ideal if you want a slow or quiet base
🇺🇸San Francisco
Pros
- +World-class tech ecosystem and networking opportunities
- +Excellent internet infrastructure with widespread 5G
- +Highly walkable city with great public transportation
- +Incredible food scene with diverse cuisines
Cons
- −Extremely high cost of living and rent
- −Visible homelessness crisis in some areas
- −Property crime remains a concern despite improvements
- −Foggy summers can be surprisingly cold