๐A single person spends $3,460 per month in Fontana, CA vs $4,438 in New York, NY, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $5,199 per month in Fontana, CA vs $7,016 in New York, NY, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $6,938 per month in Fontana, CA vs $9,593 in New York, NY, rent included.
๐Fontana, CA is about 22% cheaper than New York, NY, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both Fontana, CA and New York, NY sit above the global median โ Fontana, CA by 158%, New York, NY by 231%.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Fontana, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.84$17.84
$29.91$29.91
-40.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8$80.8
$144$144
-43.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.18$12.18
$12.32$12.32
-1.14%
Cappuccino
$5.11$5.11
$6.03$6.03
-15.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82$2.82
$3.39$3.39
-16.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28$2.28
$2.56$2.56
-10.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.05$7.05
$8.20$8.20
-14.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.90$6.90
$11.95$11.95
-42.26%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Fontana, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17$1.17
$1.54$1.54
-24.03%
White Bread(500g)
$4.00$4.00
$5.15$5.15
-22.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.72$4.72
$8.43$8.43
-44.01%
Eggs
$4.95$4.95
$6.97$6.97
-28.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.98$11.98
$17.28$17.28
-30.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.31$16.31
$16.24$16.24
0.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.66$15.66
$19.95$19.95
-21.50%
Apples(1kg)
$4.42$4.42
$7.45$7.45
-40.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.94$1.94
$2.42$2.42
-19.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.50$4.50
$5.87$5.87
-23.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.61$5.61
$6.31$6.31
-11.09%
Potato(1kg)
$4.44$4.44
$3.72$3.72
19.35%
Onion(1kg)
$3.19$3.19
$3.99$3.99
-20.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44$1.44
$3.19$3.19
-54.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18$2.18
$2.55$2.55
-14.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.05$11.05
$19.09$19.09
-42.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.99$15.99
$20.24$20.24
-21.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01$2.01
$2.99$2.99
-32.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55$3.55
$3.87$3.87
-8.27%
๐ Getting Around
Fontana, CA
New York, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.06$2.06
$2.95$2.95
-30.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.63$45.63
$131$131
-65.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.65$6.65
$5.13$5.13
29.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.39$4.39
$2.20$2.20
99.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.76$29.76
$42.64$42.64
-30.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23$1.23
$0.95$0.95
29.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K$23.7K
$34.5K$34.5K
-31.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K$24.5K
$28.2K$28.2K
-13.22%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fontana, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$264$264
$182$182
45.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.0$53.0
$60.1$60.1
-11.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2$60.2
$61.9$61.9
-2.75%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Fontana, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.56$42.56
$140$140
-69.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$64.4$64.4
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.21$14.21
$20.33$20.33
-30.10%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Fontana, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,193$1,193
$3,222$3,222
-62.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.2K$23.2K
$56.2K$56.2K
-58.81%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Fontana, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.63$46.63
$65.9$65.9
-29.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.11$34.11
$47.20$47.20
-27.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.4$89.4
$111$111
-19.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.4$89.4
$173$173
-48.37%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Fontana, CA
New York, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,961$1,961
$4,208$4,208
-53.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,101$2,101
$2,647$2,647
-20.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,203$3,203
$8,415$8,415
-61.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,768$3,768
$5,170$5,170
-27.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$20.1K$20.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$8,742$8,742
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Fontana, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,129$5,129
$5,144$5,144
-0.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.58
6.44
2.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fontana, CA: April 21, 2026
Last update for New York, NY: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $1,961 in Fontana, CA versus $4,208 in New York, NY. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 0% higher in New York, NY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $81 in Fontana, CA versus $144 in New York, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $435 vs $554 โ making Fontana, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Fontana, CA vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fontana, CA or New York, NY?
New York, NY costs about 28% more than Fontana, CA, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Fontana, CA vs New York, NY?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,191 per month in Fontana, CA and $6,657 in New York, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Fontana, CA or New York, NY?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Fontana, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Fontana, CA compared to New York, NY?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,460 in Fontana, CA and $4,438 in New York, NY. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Fontana, CA vs New York, NY?
Public transport costs about 186% less in Fontana, CA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Fontana, CA or New York, NY?
$2,000 is a stretch for both โ monthly costs hit $3,460 in Fontana, CA and $4,438 in New York, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Fontana, CA or New York, NY?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Fontana, CA costs $3,460 versus $4,438 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Fontana, CA or New York, NY?
If budget matters most, go with Fontana, CA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Fontana, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared