Cost of Living Comparison Between Bronx, NY and Fresno, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Bronx, NY and Fresno, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,206 in Bronx, NY versus $2,877 in Fresno, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,407 in Bronx, NY versus $4,228 in Fresno, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,608 in Bronx, NY versus $5,578 in Fresno, CA.

Living in Bronx, NY is roughly 46% more expensive than in Fresno, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bronx, NY 206% above, Fresno, CA 109% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.41 $22.41

$20.06 $20.06

11.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.8 $59.8

$68.8 $68.8

-12.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.83 $11.83

$14.14 $14.14

-16.34%

Cappuccino

$3.24 $3.24

$5.04 $5.04

-35.71%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$3.08 $3.08

-11.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 $1.22

$2.15 $2.15

-43.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.55 $6.55

$6.90 $6.90

-5.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.99 $5.99

$8.86 $8.86

-32.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.13 $1.13

-6.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.83 $2.83

30.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$4.52 $4.52

25.44%

Eggs

$4.66 $4.66

$5.46 $5.46

-14.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.85 $12.85

$10.86 $10.86

18.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.23 $17.23

$8.98 $8.98

91.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.91 $15.91

$16.04 $16.04

-0.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$4.90 $4.90

-20.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.08 $2.08

-12.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.35 $4.35

23.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$3.62 $3.62

62.71%

Potato (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$6.30 $6.30

-46.98%

Onion (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.71 $2.71

25.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.36 $2.36

3.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.75 $2.75

-26.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.06 $14.06

$12.03 $12.03

16.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.12 $18.12

$17.72 $17.72

2.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.30 $2.30

13.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.01 $4.01

$6.43 $6.43

-37.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.27 $1.27

138.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$142 $142

$47.33 $47.33

200.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 $2.80

$4.27 $4.27

-34.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.74 $3.74

$1.53 $1.53

144.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$50.4 $50.4

$27.57 $27.57

82.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.43 $1.43

-37.76%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.0K $28.0K

$37.1K $37.1K

-24.36%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.8K $25.8K

$29.9K $29.9K

-13.61%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$268 $268

$239 $239

12.23%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$46.81 $46.81

$52.1 $52.1

-10.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.6 $56.6

$76.6 $76.6

-26.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.3 $63.3

$39.01 $39.01

62.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$69.8 $69.8

$42.97 $42.97

62.51%

Cinema Ticket

$12.99 $12.99

$16.74 $16.74

-22.40%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,739 $2,739

$1,194 $1,194

129.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$54.0K $54.0K

$13.2K $13.2K

308.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$110 $110

$60.7 $60.7

81.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.59 $49.59

$44.22 $44.22

12.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 $118

$97.4 $97.4

21.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 $132

$175 $175

-24.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,618 $2,618

$1,675 $1,675

56.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,663 $2,663

$1,414 $1,414

88.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,475 $4,475

$2,439 $2,439

83.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,372 $3,372

$2,517 $2,517

33.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,154 $7,154

$2,663 $2,663

168.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,698 $5,698

$3,080 $3,080

85.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,481 $4,481

$3,634 $3,634

23.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

6.03

9.12%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bronx, NY: August 30, 2026

Last update for Fresno, CA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,618 in Bronx, NY and $1,675 in Fresno, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bronx, NY pays 23% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $60.0 in Bronx, NY vs $69.0 in Fresno, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $451 vs $404, with Fresno, CA cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Bronx, NY vs Fresno, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fresno, CA wins on cost – living expenses run 46% lower than in Bronx, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fresno, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 23% higher in Bronx, NY, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,618 in Bronx, NY versus $1,675 in Fresno, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Fresno, CA runs roughly 200% less than in Bronx, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,739 in Bronx, NY versus $1,194 in Fresno, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Fresno, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Fresno, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Bronx, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.