Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Fresno, CA: $2,875 a month against $4,216 in Bronx, NY, rent and utilities included – about $16,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bronx, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,216
/mo nomad
Fresno, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,875
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bronx, NY and in Fresno, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bronx, NY and in Fresno, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,216 in Bronx, NY versus $2,875 in Fresno, CA.

  • Bronx, NY $4,216
  • Fresno, CA $2,875

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,497 in Bronx, NY versus $4,387 in Fresno, CA.

  • Bronx, NY $5,497
  • Fresno, CA $4,387

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,778 in Bronx, NY versus $5,899 in Fresno, CA.

  • Bronx, NY $6,778
  • Fresno, CA $5,899

Living in Bronx, NY is roughly 47% more expensive than in Fresno, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bronx, NY 211% above, Fresno, CA 112% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bronx, NY
Fresno, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.74 $21.74
$19.73 $19.73
10.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.4 $60.4
$69.7 $69.7
-13.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.22 $12.22
$14.07 $14.07
-13.15%
Cappuccino
$3.39 $3.39
$4.97 $4.97
-31.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 $2.71
$3.01 $3.01
-9.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 $1.22
$2.15 $2.15
-43.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.49 $6.49
$7.16 $7.16
-9.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.84 $5.84
$9.09 $9.09
-35.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bronx, NY
Fresno, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.08 $1.08
-2.78%
White Bread (500g)
$3.68 $3.68
$2.81 $2.81
30.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.67 $5.67
$4.61 $4.61
22.99%
Eggs
$4.71 $4.71
$5.50 $5.50
-14.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$11.01 $11.01
17.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.86 $16.86
$10.00 $10.00
68.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.89 $15.89
$15.74 $15.74
0.95%
Apples (1kg)
$4.00 $4.00
$4.88 $4.88
-18.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.98 $1.98
-7.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.53 $5.53
$4.38 $4.38
26.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.86 $5.86
$3.35 $3.35
74.93%
Potato (1kg)
$3.27 $3.27
$7.51 $7.51
-56.46%
Onion (1kg)
$3.33 $3.33
$2.79 $2.79
19.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.44 $2.44
-0.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.93 $2.93
-33.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.67 $14.67
$11.80 $11.80
24.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.07 $18.07
$17.85 $17.85
1.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.26 $2.26
11.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11 $4.11
$6.58 $6.58
-37.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Bronx, NY
Fresno, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.02 $3.02
$1.24 $1.24
143.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$139 $139
$47.58 $47.58
192.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.70 $2.70
$4.27 $4.27
-36.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.80 $3.80
$1.55 $1.55
145.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.4 $50.4
$27.72 $27.72
81.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.48 $1.48
-30.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K $28.2K
$27.5K $27.5K
2.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$28.5K $28.5K
-6.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bronx, NY
Fresno, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$236 $236
14.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.89 $46.89
$53.0 $53.0
-11.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.9 $56.9
$76.9 $76.9
-26.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bronx, NY
Fresno, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.3 $62.3
$38.22 $38.22
62.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$69.3 $69.3
$42.00 $42.00
65.10%
Cinema Ticket
$13.08 $13.08
$17.15 $17.15
-23.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bronx, NY
Fresno, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,722 $2,722
$1,179 $1,179
130.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.1K $56.1K
$12.9K $12.9K
335.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bronx, NY
Fresno, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110 $110
$59.6 $59.6
85.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.96 $49.96
$42.88 $42.88
16.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 $121
$95.5 $95.5
26.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 $135
$173 $173
-22.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bronx, NY
Fresno, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,583 $2,583
$1,663 $1,663
55.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,633 $2,633
$1,457 $1,457
80.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,628 $4,628
$3,113 $3,113
48.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,386 $3,386
$2,837 $2,837
19.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,168 $7,168
$2,644 $2,644
171.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,762 $5,762
$3,058 $3,058
88.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bronx, NY
Fresno, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,351 $4,351
$3,841 $3,841
13.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.01
6.4
9.53%

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

Last update for Bronx, NY: October 19, 2026

Last update for Fresno, CA: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bronx, NY
$2.6K
Fresno, CA
$1.5K 44.7% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Bronx, NY
$449
Fresno, CA
$413 7.9% $35
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bronx, NY
$375
Fresno, CA
$366 2.3% $8.6
Eating Out
Bronx, NY
$311
Fresno, CA
$334 7.4% $23
Clothing & Footwear
Bronx, NY
$187
Fresno, CA
$167 10.8% $20
Getting Around
Bronx, NY
$173
Fresno, CA
$65 62.7% $109
Sport & Entertainment
Bronx, NY
$88
Fresno, CA
$73 18% $16

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,583 in Bronx, NY and $1,663 in Fresno, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bronx, NY pays 13% 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 $70.0 in Fresno, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $449 vs $413, with Fresno, CA cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Bronx, NY
🇺🇸 Fresno, CA
🕒 Local time
09:24 9:24 AM
06:24 6:24 AM
3 h behind Bronx, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,385,108
520,052
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bronx, NY Fresno, CA 3,960 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bronx, NY
  • Fresno, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Bronx, NY or Fresno, CA?
Fresno, CA wins on cost – living expenses run 47% 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.
Are salaries higher in Bronx, NY or in Fresno, CA?
Average pay runs 13% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bronx, NY compared to Fresno, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,583 in Bronx, NY versus $1,663 in Fresno, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Bronx, NY compared to Fresno, CA?
A monthly transit pass in Fresno, CA runs roughly 193% less than in Bronx, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Bronx, NY and in Fresno, CA?
Childcare runs $2,722 in Bronx, NY versus $1,179 in Fresno, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Bronx, NY or in Fresno, CA?
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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Bronx, NY or Fresno, CA?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Fresno, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Bronx, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Bronx, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?