Living Cost Compare
Fresno

California

$1,380/mo est.

vs
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Fresno, CA versus $1,300 in Hartford, CT. Overall, Hartford, CT is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fresno, CA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $66,804 in Fresno, CA and $45,300 in Hartford, CT — about 32% higher in Fresno, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Fresno, CA
Hartford, CT

Rent

Studio
$1,072
$973
+9% in Fresno, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$1,042
about equal
2 Bedroom
$1,293
$1,296
+0% in Hartford, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,433
+15% in Fresno, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$348,500
$217,200
+38% in Fresno, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$66,804
$45,300
+32% in Fresno, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,910
$59,940
+28% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
33.4 yr
+1.0 yr in Hartford, CT
Homeownership
49.7%
25.7%
+24.0 pp in Fresno, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.9%
18.3%
+6.6 pp in Fresno, CA
Avg Commute
22.3 min
22.8 min
+0.5 min in Hartford, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
742.2
527.5
+29% in Fresno, CA
Property Crime
3,335.3
2,949.2
+12% 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
64.4°F
51.2°F
+13.2°F in Fresno, CA
Annual Precipitation
11.5 in
43.6 in
+32.1 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.52/gal
$3.94/gal
+29% in Fresno, CA

Area: California vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
24.3
+30% in Fresno, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$23.33
+15% in Hartford, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Fresno, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Fresno, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Fresno, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in Hartford, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / CT)
7.25%
6.35%
+0.9 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
6.99%
+6.3 pp in CA

Fresno vs Hartford — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Hartford?
Hartford, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Fresno, CA's $1,380, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fresno than in Hartford?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Fresno versus $42,000 in Hartford.
Which has lower taxes, Fresno or Hartford?
Fresno is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).