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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,557 per month in New York, NY vs $3,002 in Fresno, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,115 per month in New York, NY vs $4,212 in Fresno, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,674 per month in New York, NY vs $5,422 in Fresno, CA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 52% more than Fresno, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Fresno, CA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 240%, Fresno, CA by 124%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.90 $29.90

$19.63 $19.63

52.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$70.7 $70.7

101.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.67 $12.67

$11.53 $11.53

9.89%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.04 $5.04

14.68%

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

$3.40 $3.40

$2.70 $2.70

25.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.01 $2.01

33.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.07 $8.07

$7.99 $7.99

1.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.86 $11.86

$9.21 $9.21

28.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 $1.61

$0.92 $0.92

75.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.83 $2.83

81.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.17 $8.17

$4.89 $4.89

67.08%

Eggs

$7.16 $7.16

$4.50 $4.50

59.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.24 $17.24

$10.22 $10.22

68.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.17 $16.17

$8.26 $8.26

95.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.46 $20.46

$17.17 $17.17

19.16%

Apples (1kg)

$7.33 $7.33

$4.23 $4.23

73.29%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.12 $2.12

14.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.54 $3.54

62.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$3.39 $3.39

92.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$3.06 $3.06

24.51%

Onion (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$2.03 $2.03

95.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.90 $1.90

62.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.40 $3.40

-27.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.03 $19.03

$11.16 $11.16

70.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.16 $20.16

$17.73 $17.73

13.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.70 $1.70

70.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$5.65 $5.65

-33.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.24 $1.24

130.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$130 $130

$45.66 $45.66

184.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.47 $3.47

43.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.07 $2.07

8.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.20 $42.20

$25.42 $25.42

66.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.21 $1.21

-20.66%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$37.2K $37.2K

-6.83%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$29.7K $29.7K

-5.53%

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

$183 $183

$301 $301

-39.24%

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

$59.5 $59.5

$49.72 $49.72

19.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 $63.4

$84.5 $84.5

-24.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$72.0 $72.0

95.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.9 $63.9

$75.1 $75.1

-14.98%

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$14.62 $14.62

36.66%

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

$3,153 $3,153

$970 $970

225.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.3K $56.3K

$13.3K $13.3K

324.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.7 $67.7

$57.1 $57.1

18.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.48 $48.48

$45.87 $45.87

5.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$73.9 $73.9

56.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$170 $170

$164 $164

3.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,113 $4,113

$1,574 $1,574

161.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,651 $2,651

$1,516 $1,516

74.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,230 $8,230

$2,422 $2,422

239.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,113 $5,113

$2,262 $2,262

126.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

$2,708 $2,708

614.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,754 $8,754

$3,093 $3,093

182.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,049 $5,049

$3,727 $3,727

35.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.51

-1.08%

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

Last update for New York, NY: April 25, 2026

Last update for Fresno, CA: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,113 in New York, NY versus $1,574 in Fresno, 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 35% 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 $71.0 in Fresno, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $553 vs $380 – making Fresno, 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 Fresno, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – New York, NY is pricier by about 52%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,835 per month in New York, NY and $4,504 in Fresno, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fresno, CA, 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 $71.0 in Fresno, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,557 in New York, NY and $3,002 in Fresno, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,557 in New York, NY and $3,002 in Fresno, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Fresno, CA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Fresno, 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.