New York City, United States
In New York City, $10 covers a halal-cart chicken-and-rice platter, three subway or bus rides, or a pay-what-you-wish museum ticket — the baseline this whole index is measured against.
Index score 100 (rank 20 of 20) — the full basket totals $49.90, so $10 covers about 20.0% of it.
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The basket
New York City is the baseline (index score 100) — every other city's prices are compared against these.
| Item | New York City |
|---|---|
| White bread (500g) | $4.61 |
| Milk (1L) | $1.44 |
| Eggs (12) | $5.90 |
| Bananas (1kg) | $2.10 |
| Bottled water (1.5L) | $2.50 |
| Domestic beer (0.5L, store) | $3.21 |
| Cappuccino (cafe) | $6.09 |
| White rice (1kg) | $6.64 |
| Chicken breast (1kg) | $14.41 |
| Public transit, one-way ticket | $3.00 |
| Total | $49.90 |
What $10 actually buys here
- A halal-cart chicken-and-rice platter~$9.00
The iconic NYC budget lunch from a street halal cart.
- Three subway or bus rides~$9.00
OMNY base fare of $3.00 × 3 — cross town and back with change to spare.
- Pay-what-you-wish museum entry~$10.00
A suggested $10 donation gets you into museums like the Brooklyn Museum.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a basic grocery basket cost in New York City?
A basic basket of staples like bread, milk, eggs, rice, and chicken runs about $49.90 in New York City — this is the baseline every other city in the $10 Index is measured against.
What can $10 buy in New York City?
A halal-cart chicken-and-rice platter, or three subway/bus rides on the $3.00 OMNY fare with change to spare, or a suggested pay-what-you-wish donation into a museum like the Brooklyn Museum.
Is New York City cheaper than other cities in the Index?
New York City is the baseline (index score 100) that every other city in this Index is measured against — see the full ranking to see how far $10 stretches elsewhere.
How much is a cappuccino in New York City?
A cafe cappuccino averages $6.09 in New York City — more than half of the $10 index amount for a single drink.
What's the cheapest item in New York City's basket?
Milk is the cheapest basket item at $1.44 a liter, while chicken breast is the most expensive at $14.41 a kilo — nearly ten times the price of milk.
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Keep exploring
In Mumbai, $10 covers a round-trip ferry to Elephanta Island with cave-temple entry, a full street-food crawl of vada pav and pav bhaji, or a Bollywood movie with popcorn.
In Paris, $10 covers a falafel wrap on rue des Rosiers, a jambon-beurre baguette sandwich with money to spare, or an espresso and croissant standing at the bar — twice over, with change back.
In Berlin, $10 covers a döner kebab with a drink, about seven Späti corner-store beers, or a transit ticket plus a currywurst mit Pommes.
Prices are researched estimates (July 2026), not live data — treat them as illustrative, not exact. See the methodology page for details.