Is Fresno expensive to live in?

Fresno is among the more affordable of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,042 per month ranks #38 of 50 and is 15% lower than the $1,223 median.

What is the average rent in Fresno?

Average rent in Fresno, CA runs a studio around $1,072, a one-bedroom around $1,042, a two-bedroom around $1,293, a three-bedroom around $1,688 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Fresno?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,042 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year. The median household income here is $66,804.

How much does it cost to live in Fresno per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Fresno is about $1,370 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

A group of trees that are next to each other — Fresno, CA

Cost of Living in Fresno, CA

Population 542,107 · California

~$1,370/mo est.1BR $1,042Home $348,500

Photo: Tim Mossholder / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Fresno, CA is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,042 a month — 15% lower than the $1,223 median across the 50 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,072 and two-bedrooms $1,293.

Median household income here is $66,804, 12% lower than the $75,900 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,370 before food and transport. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,042

Studio

$1,072

1 Bedroom

$1,042

2 Bedroom

$1,293

3 Bedroom

$1,688

Buying a Home$348,500

Median Home Value

$348,500

Income$66,804

Median Household Income

$66,804

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,910

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesWest

Milk (gal)

$4.37

Bread (lb)

$2.10

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

Average prices, West (BLS, 2026-04-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities33.4¢/kWh

Electricity

33.4¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$20.72/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-03-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$5.91/gal

Regular Gasoline (California)

$5.91/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-05-25.

Public Transit$1.25

Base Fare (FAX)

$1.25

Adult base one-way fare on the primary agency (2026).

State Taxes (CA)7.25% sales

State Sales Tax

7.25%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 13.30%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime741.9 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

741.9

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

3,334.2

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Fresno Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 32.4 yrs

Median Age

32.4 yrs

Homeownership

49.7%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

24.9%

Avg Commute

22.3 min

Climate64.4°F

Avg Annual Temperature

64.4°F

Annual Precipitation

11.5 in

Fresno cost of living — FAQ

Is Fresno expensive to live in?: Fresno is among the more affordable of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,042 per month ranks #38 of 50 and is 15% lower than the $1,223 median.
What is the average rent in Fresno?: Average rent in Fresno, CA runs a studio around $1,072, a one-bedroom around $1,042, a two-bedroom around $1,293, a three-bedroom around $1,688 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Fresno?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,042 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year. The median household income here is $66,804.
How much does it cost to live in Fresno per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Fresno is about $1,370 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Fresno with nearby cities

Fresno vs Bakersfield Fresno vs Sacramento Fresno vs San Francisco Fresno vs Los Angeles Fresno vs Long Beach Fresno vs Anaheim

Nearby cities

Bakersfield, CA 104 mi Sacramento, CA 158 mi San Francisco, CA 162 mi Los Angeles, CA 205 mi Long Beach, CA 224 mi Anaheim, CA 227 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.