Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Fond du Lac, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Fond du Lac, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,841 in New York, NY versus $987 in Fond du Lac, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,287 in New York, NY versus $1,641 in Fond du Lac, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,734 in New York, NY versus $2,295 in Fond du Lac, WI.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 390% more expensive than in Fond du Lac, WI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: New York, NY is 254% above, Fond du Lac, WI is 28% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.33 $25.33

$12.92 $12.92

96.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$67.6 $67.6

110.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$7.95 $7.95

73.33%

Cappuccino

$6.19 $6.19

$4.04 $4.04

53.22%

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

$3.69 $3.69

$2.91 $2.91

26.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.35 $2.35

25.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$3.97 $3.97

95.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$6.12 $6.12

65.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.76 $0.76

82.89%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$2.84 $2.84

61.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$2.96 $2.96

134.46%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$3.15 $3.15

83.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$16.46 $16.46

5.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$11.56 $11.56

30.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.02 $18.02

$12.99 $12.99

38.72%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$4.47 $4.47

40.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.68 $1.68

26.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$3.59 $3.59

61.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$6.06 $6.06

3.63%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$4.66 $4.66

-27.25%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$2.50 $2.50

70.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$0.98 $0.98

182.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.71 $1.71

49.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$11.17 $11.17

67.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 $20.30

$8.10 $8.10

150.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.70 $1.70

85.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$10.15 $10.15

-69.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

$20.30 $20.30

104.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.88 $0.88

28.41%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$24.4K $24.4K

45.25%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.3K $25.3K

1.15%

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

$236 $236

$99.4 $99.4

137.60%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$37.03 $37.03

99.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$51.5 $51.5

40.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.1 $63.1

Cinema Ticket

$23.37 $23.37

$11.96 $11.96

95.40%

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

$3,353 $3,353

$1,475 $1,475

127.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.0K $61.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$57.7 $57.7

25.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$46.80 $46.80

11.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$89.2 $89.2

30.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$221 $221

-44.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,438 $4,438

$1,217 $1,217

264.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,045 $3,045

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,088 $9,088

$1,508 $1,508

502.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,404 $5,404

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K $18.8K

$1,785 $1,785

953.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 $6,500

$1,786 $1,786

263.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,258 $5,258

$2,953 $2,953

78.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.16

5.36%

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

Last update for New York, NY: September 12, 2026

Last update for Fond du Lac, WI: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,438 in New York, NY and $1,217 in Fond du Lac, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 78% 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: $142 in New York, NY vs $68.0 in Fond du Lac, WI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $516 vs $352 per month, with Fond du Lac, WI cheaper across the board.

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 Fond du Lac, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY and Fond du Lac, WI differ by about 390% in total monthly costs ($4,841 vs $987 including rent). Fond du Lac, WI is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 78% higher in New York, NY, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,438 in New York, NY versus $1,217 in Fond du Lac, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,353 in New York, NY versus $1,475 in Fond du Lac, WI. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Fond du Lac, WI – a meal for two runs $68.0 versus $142 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $987 in Fond du Lac, WI versus $4,841 in New York, NY, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Fond du Lac, WI but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Fond du Lac, WI the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, New York, NY and Fond du Lac, WI are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Fond du Lac, WI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 390% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.