Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Fresno?

Fresno, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Fresno?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $42,000 in Fresno.

Which has lower taxes, Denver or Fresno?

Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Fresno under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax).

Denver vs Fresno Cost of Living 2026

Denver

Colorado

$1,750/mo est.

Fresno

California

$1,370/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,750 in Denver, CO versus $1,370 in Fresno, CA. Overall, Fresno, CA is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $66,804 in Fresno, CA — about 27% higher in Denver, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Denver, CO

Fresno, CA

Rent

Studio

$1,497

$1,072

+28% in Denver, CO

1 Bedroom

$1,583

$1,042

+34% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,958

$1,293

+34% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,269

$1,688

+26% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$586,700

$348,500

+41% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$91,681

$66,804

+27% in Denver, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$46,910

+25% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

32.4 yr

+2.8 yr in Denver, CO

Homeownership

49.1%

49.7%

+0.6 pp in Fresno, CA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.6%

24.9%

+30.7 pp in Denver, CO

Avg Commute

25.4 min

22.3 min

+3.1 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

998.3

741.9

+26% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

4,781.9

3,334.2

+30% in Denver, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

64.4°F

+14.2°F in Fresno, CA

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

11.5 in

+4.1 in in Denver, CO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.58/gal

$5.91/gal

+29% in Fresno, CA

Area: Denver vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

$1.25

+55% in Denver, CO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.7

33.4

+99% in Fresno, CA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.64

$20.72

+78% in Fresno, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.10

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / CA)

2.9%

7.25%

+4.3 pp in CA

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

13.30%

+8.9 pp in CA

Denver vs Fresno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Fresno?: Fresno, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Fresno?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $42,000 in Fresno.
Which has lower taxes, Denver or Fresno?: Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Fresno under California's (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).