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 $4,438 per month in New York, NY vs $2,045 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,016 per month in New York, NY vs $3,203 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,593 per month in New York, NY vs $4,361 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 117% 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 231%, Fargo, ND by 53%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.91 $29.91

$14.92 $14.92

100.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 $144

$50.5 $50.5

185.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$10.95 $10.95

12.51%

Cappuccino

$6.03 $6.03

$5.22 $5.22

15.52%

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

$3.39 $3.39

$2.66 $2.66

27.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.97 $1.97

29.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.20 $8.20

$5.93 $5.93

38.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.95 $11.95

$8.39 $8.39

42.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.26 $1.26

22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$5.15 $5.15

$3.40 $3.40

51.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.43 $8.43

$6.03 $6.03

39.80%

Eggs

$6.97 $6.97

$3.89 $3.89

79.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.28 $17.28

$12.45 $12.45

38.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$14.64 $14.64

10.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.95 $19.95

$19.36 $19.36

3.05%

Apples (1kg)

$7.45 $7.45

$8.30 $8.30

-10.24%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.80 $2.80

-13.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$6.42 $6.42

-8.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$4.69 $4.69

34.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.68 $3.68

1.09%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.51 $3.51

13.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 $3.19

$1.96 $1.96

62.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.73 $2.73

-6.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.09 $19.09

$8.94 $8.94

113.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.24 $20.24

$16.77 $16.77

20.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.63 $2.63

13.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

$4.93 $4.93

-21.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.54 $1.54

91.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

$41.57 $41.57

214.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 $5.13

$4.55 $4.55

12.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.60 $1.60

37.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.64 $42.64

$29.67 $29.67

43.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.78 $0.78

21.79%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$33.4K $33.4K

3.24%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$25.3K $25.3K

11.31%

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

$182 $182

$161 $161

12.77%

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

$60.1 $60.1

$54.9 $54.9

9.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$57.9 $57.9

7.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$55.8 $55.8

151.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.4 $64.4

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$13.89 $13.89

46.36%

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

$3,222 $3,222

$1,252 $1,252

157.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.2K $56.2K

$23.2K $23.2K

142.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.9 $65.9

$51.3 $51.3

28.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$47.12 $47.12

0.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$89.1 $89.1

24.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$173 $173

$108 $108

60.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,208 $4,208

$970 $970

333.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,647 $2,647

$766 $766

245.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,415 $8,415

$2,598 $2,598

223.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,170 $5,170

$1,547 $1,547

234.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.1K $20.1K

$1,795 $1,795

1019.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,742 $8,742

$1,774 $1,774

392.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,144 $5,144

$3,785 $3,785

35.90%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Fargo, ND: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,208 in New York, NY versus $970 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 36% 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 $144 in New York, NY versus $50 in Fargo, ND. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $478 – 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 117% 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 $6,657 per month in New York, NY and $3,067 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 $144 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 $4,438 in New York, NY and $2,045 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 $2,045, than in New York, NY at $4,438. 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 $2,045 versus $4,438 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.