Last update: Oct 2026

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Living in Fresno, CA costs roughly 32% less than in Bronx, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fresno, CA
Bronx, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.73 $19.73
$21.74 $21.74
-9.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7 $69.7
$60.4 $60.4
15.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.07 $14.07
$12.22 $12.22
15.14%
Cappuccino
$4.97 $4.97
$3.39 $3.39
46.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.71 $2.71
11.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.22 $1.22
76.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.16 $7.16
$6.49 $6.49
10.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.09 $9.09
$5.84 $5.84
55.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fresno, CA
Bronx, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.05 $1.05
2.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.81 $2.81
$3.68 $3.68
-23.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$5.67 $5.67
-18.69%
Eggs
$5.50 $5.50
$4.71 $4.71
16.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.01 $11.01
$12.90 $12.90
-14.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.00 $10.00
$16.86 $16.86
-40.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$15.89 $15.89
-0.94%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$4.00 $4.00
22.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.84 $1.84
7.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$5.53 $5.53
-20.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.35 $3.35
$5.86 $5.86
-42.83%
Potato (1kg)
$7.51 $7.51
$3.27 $3.27
129.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.79 $2.79
$3.33 $3.33
-16.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.42 $2.42
0.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.93 $2.93
$1.95 $1.95
50.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.80 $11.80
$14.67 $14.67
-19.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.85 $17.85
$18.07 $18.07
-1.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.53 $2.53
-10.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.58 $6.58
$4.11 $4.11
60.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Fresno, CA
Bronx, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 $1.24
$3.02 $3.02
-58.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.58 $47.58
$139 $139
-65.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.27 $4.27
$2.70 $2.70
58.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 $1.55
$3.80 $3.80
-59.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.72 $27.72
$50.4 $50.4
-44.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.03 $1.03
43.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K $27.5K
$28.2K $28.2K
-2.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5K $28.5K
$26.5K $26.5K
7.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fresno, CA
Bronx, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$236 $236
$271 $271
-12.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.0 $53.0
$46.89 $46.89
12.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.9 $76.9
$56.9 $56.9
35.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fresno, CA
Bronx, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.22 $38.22
$62.3 $62.3
-38.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.00 $42.00
$69.3 $69.3
-39.43%
Cinema Ticket
$17.15 $17.15
$13.08 $13.08
31.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fresno, CA
Bronx, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,179 $1,179
$2,722 $2,722
-56.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K $12.9K
$56.1K $56.1K
-77.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fresno, CA
Bronx, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.6 $59.6
$110 $110
-46.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.88 $42.88
$49.96 $49.96
-14.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.5 $95.5
$121 $121
-20.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$173 $173
$135 $135
28.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fresno, CA
Bronx, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,663 $1,663
$2,583 $2,583
-35.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,457 $1,457
$2,633 $2,633
-44.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,113 $3,113
$4,628 $4,628
-32.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,837 $2,837
$3,386 $3,386
-16.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,644 $2,644
$7,168 $7,168
-63.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,058 $3,058
$5,762 $5,762
-46.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fresno, CA
Bronx, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,841 $3,841
$4,351 $4,351
-11.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.4
7.01
-8.70%

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

Last update for Fresno, CA: October 18, 2026

Last update for Bronx, NY: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Fresno, CA
$1.5K
Bronx, NY
$2.6K 80.7% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Fresno, CA
$413
Bronx, NY
$449 8.5% $35
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fresno, CA
$366
Bronx, NY
$375 2.4% $8.6
Eating Out
Fresno, CA
$334
Bronx, NY
$311 6.9% $23
Clothing & Footwear
Fresno, CA
$167
Bronx, NY
$187 12.1% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Fresno, CA
$73
Bronx, NY
$88 22% $16
Getting Around
Fresno, CA
$65
Bronx, NY
$173 168% $109

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,663 in Fresno, CA and $2,583 in Bronx, NY. 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: $70.0 in Fresno, CA vs $60.0 in Bronx, NY. Groceries flip the comparison at $413 vs $449, with Fresno, CA cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Fresno, CA
🇺🇸 Bronx, NY
🕒 Local time
07:18 7:18 AM
10:18 10:18 AM
3 h ahead of Fresno, CA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
520,052
1,385,108
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
  • Fresno, CA Bronx, NY 3,960 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Fresno, CA
  • Bronx, NY

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
Fresno, CA vs Bronx, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fresno, CA or Bronx, NY?
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 Fresno, CA or in Bronx, NY?
On paper, salaries run 13% lower in Bronx, NY. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Fresno, CA compared to Bronx, NY?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,663 in Fresno, CA versus $2,583 in Bronx, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Fresno, CA compared to Bronx, NY?
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 Fresno, CA and in Bronx, NY?
Childcare runs $1,179 in Fresno, CA versus $2,722 in Bronx, NY. 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 Fresno, CA or in Bronx, NY?
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: Fresno, CA or Bronx, NY?
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.

Fresno, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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