Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Fargo, ND Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Fargo, ND

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,459 per month in New York, NY vs $2,092 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,988 per month in New York, NY vs $3,243 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,517 per month in New York, NY vs $4,394 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 113% more than Fargo, ND, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both New York, NY and Fargo, ND sit above the global median – New York, NY by 234%, Fargo, ND by 57%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.11 $30.11

$15.23 $15.23

97.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$49.63 $49.63

187.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.67 $12.67

$10.97 $10.97

15.50%

Cappuccino

$6.07 $6.07

$5.40 $5.40

12.41%

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

$3.27 $3.27

$2.68 $2.68

22.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.96 $1.96

32.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$6.03 $6.03

32.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.18 $12.18

$8.24 $8.24

47.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.22 $1.22

26.23%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.44 $3.44

47.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.39 $8.39

$5.93 $5.93

41.48%

Eggs

$7.11 $7.11

$4.05 $4.05

75.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.70 $17.70

$12.66 $12.66

39.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.71 $16.71

$15.05 $15.05

11.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.85 $19.85

$19.50 $19.50

1.79%

Apples (1kg)

$7.38 $7.38

$8.29 $8.29

-10.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.83 $2.83

-9.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.60 $6.60

-11.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.35 $6.35

$4.71 $4.71

34.82%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.74 $3.74

0.27%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.58 $3.58

13.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.02 $2.02

55.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.64 $2.64

-6.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$9.32 $9.32

100.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.79 $19.79

$18.64 $18.64

6.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.63 $2.63

14.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$4.84 $4.84

-22.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.46 $1.46

95.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$41.61 $41.61

220.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.94 $4.94

$4.61 $4.61

7.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.66 $1.66

34.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.11 $42.11

$29.43 $29.43

43.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.83 $0.83

16.87%

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

$34.8K $34.8K

$33.4K $33.4K

4.30%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.8K $25.8K

7.24%

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

$180 $180

$159 $159

13.20%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$54.2 $54.2

11.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.6 $62.6

$58.0 $58.0

7.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$142 $142

$54.9 $54.9

158.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.8 $64.8

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$13.61 $13.61

46.80%

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

$3,220 $3,220

$1,240 $1,240

159.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.0K $57.0K

$23.0K $23.0K

147.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.3 $67.3

$50.9 $50.9

32.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.36 $48.36

$47.14 $47.14

2.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$90.0 $90.0

24.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 $171

$109 $109

56.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,136 $4,136

$969 $969

326.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,635 $2,635

$753 $753

249.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,333 $8,333

$2,604 $2,604

220.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,118 $5,118

$1,539 $1,539

232.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

$1,774 $1,774

951.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$1,810 $1,810

257.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,420 $5,420

$3,773 $3,773

43.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.56

-1.83%

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

Last update for New York, NY: July 19, 2026

Last update for Fargo, ND: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,136 in New York, NY versus $969 in Fargo, ND. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 44% higher in New York, NY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $143 in New York, NY versus $50.0 in Fargo, ND. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $555 vs $485 – making Fargo, ND 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

New York, NY vs Fargo, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 113% more than Fargo, ND, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,688 per month in New York, NY and $3,138 in Fargo, ND. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fargo, ND, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $143 in New York, NY and $50.0 in Fargo, ND. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,459 in New York, NY and $2,092 in Fargo, ND. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fargo, ND, where all-in costs run around $2,092, than in New York, NY at $4,459. In Fargo, ND it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Fargo, ND costs $2,092 versus $4,459 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Fargo, ND. 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.