Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Fontana, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Fontana, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,438 per month in New York, NY vs $3,460 in Fontana, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,016 per month in New York, NY vs $5,199 in Fontana, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,593 per month in New York, NY vs $6,938 in Fontana, CA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 28% more than Fontana, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both New York, NY and Fontana, CA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 231%, Fontana, CA by 158%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.91 $29.91

$17.84 $17.84

67.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 $144

$80.8 $80.8

78.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$12.18 $12.18

1.15%

Cappuccino

$6.03 $6.03

$5.11 $5.11

18.00%

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

$3.39 $3.39

$2.82 $2.82

20.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.28 $2.28

12.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.05 $7.05

16.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.95 $11.95

$6.90 $6.90

73.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.17 $1.17

31.62%

White Bread (500g)

$5.15 $5.15

$4.00 $4.00

28.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.43 $8.43

$4.72 $4.72

78.60%

Eggs

$6.97 $6.97

$4.95 $4.95

40.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.28 $17.28

$11.98 $11.98

44.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$16.31 $16.31

-0.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.95 $19.95

$15.66 $15.66

27.39%

Apples (1kg)

$7.45 $7.45

$4.42 $4.42

68.55%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.94 $1.94

24.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$4.50 $4.50

30.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$5.61 $5.61

12.48%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.44 $4.44

-16.22%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.19 $3.19

25.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 $3.19

$1.44 $1.44

121.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.18 $2.18

16.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.09 $19.09

$11.05 $11.05

72.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.24 $20.24

$15.99 $15.99

26.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.01 $2.01

48.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.55 $3.55

9.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.06 $2.06

43.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

$45.63 $45.63

186.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 $5.13

$6.65 $6.65

-22.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$4.39 $4.39

-49.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.64 $42.64

$29.76 $29.76

43.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.23 $1.23

-22.76%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$23.7K $23.7K

45.33%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$24.5K $24.5K

15.23%

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

$182 $182

$264 $264

-31.05%

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

$60.1 $60.1

$53.0 $53.0

13.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$60.2 $60.2

2.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$42.56 $42.56

228.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.4 $64.4

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$14.21 $14.21

43.07%

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

$3,222 $3,222

$1,193 $1,193

170.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.2K $56.2K

$23.2K $23.2K

142.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.9 $65.9

$46.63 $46.63

41.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$34.11 $34.11

38.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$89.4 $89.4

24.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$173 $173

$89.4 $89.4

93.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,208 $4,208

$1,961 $1,961

114.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,647 $2,647

$2,101 $2,101

26.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,415 $8,415

$3,203 $3,203

162.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,170 $5,170

$3,768 $3,768

37.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.1K $20.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,742 $8,742

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,144 $5,144

$5,129 $5,129

0.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.58

-2.13%

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 Fontana, CA: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,208 in New York, NY versus $1,961 in Fontana, CA. 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 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $144 in New York, NY versus $81 in Fontana, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $435 – 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

New York, NY vs Fontana, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,657 per month in New York, NY and $5,191 in Fontana, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,438 in New York, NY and $3,460 in Fontana, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 186% less in Fontana, CA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,438 in New York, NY and $3,460 in Fontana, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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.

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.