Living Cost Compare
Anaheim

California

$2,090/mo est.

vs
Fresno

California

$1,370/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,090 in Anaheim, CA versus $1,370 in Fresno, CA. Overall, Fresno, CA is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anaheim, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,583 in Anaheim, CA and $66,804 in Fresno, CA — about 26% higher in Anaheim, CA. Both cities are in California, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,929
$1,072
+44% in Anaheim, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,764
$1,042
+41% in Anaheim, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,171
$1,293
+40% in Anaheim, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,653
$1,688
+36% in Anaheim, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$771,700
$348,500
+55% in Anaheim, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$90,583
$66,804
+26% in Anaheim, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$46,910
+16% in Anaheim, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
32.4 yr
+3.5 yr in Anaheim, CA
Homeownership
45.9%
49.7%
+3.8 pp in Fresno, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.8%
24.9%
+3.9 pp in Anaheim, CA
Avg Commute
28.2 min
22.3 min
+5.9 min in Anaheim, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
597.4
741.9
+24% in Fresno, CA
Property Crime
2,234.6
3,334.2
+49% in Fresno, CA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.1°F
64.4°F
+2.7°F in Anaheim, CA
Annual Precipitation
13.4 in
11.5 in
+1.9 in in Anaheim, CA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.89/gal
$5.91/gal
+0% in Fresno, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$1.25
+38% in Anaheim, CA

Adult base one-way fare — OCTA vs FAX (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
33.4
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$20.72
about equal

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.37
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$7.23
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.14
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.74
about equal

Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / CA)
7.25%
7.25%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
13.30%
about equal

Anaheim vs Fresno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anaheim or Fresno?
Fresno, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Anaheim, CA's $2,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anaheim than in Fresno?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $71,000 a year in Anaheim versus $42,000 in Fresno.
Which has lower taxes, Anaheim or Fresno?
Neither — both are in California, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).