Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Houston?

Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Fresno, CA's $1,370, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Fresno versus $46,000 in Houston.

Which has lower taxes, Fresno or Houston?

Fresno is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Houston under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Fresno vs Houston Cost of Living 2026

Fresno

California

$1,370/mo est.

Houston

Texas

$1,350/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,370 in Fresno, CA versus $1,350 in Houston, TX. Overall, Houston, TX is roughly 1% 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 $62,894 in Houston, TX — about 6% higher in Fresno, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Fresno, CA

Houston, TX

Rent

Studio

$1,072

$1,142

+7% in Houston, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,042

$1,156

+11% in Houston, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,293

$1,375

+6% in Houston, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,688

$1,664

+1% in Fresno, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$348,500

$253,400

+27% in Fresno, CA

Income

Median Household Income

$66,804

$62,894

+6% in Fresno, CA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,910

$49,410

+5% in Houston, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.4 yr

34.3 yr

+1.9 yr in Houston, TX

Homeownership

49.7%

42.0%

+7.7 pp in Fresno, CA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

24.9%

36.0%

+11.1 pp in Houston, TX

Avg Commute

22.3 min

27.3 min

+5.0 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

741.9

1,155.2

+56% in Houston, TX

Property Crime

3,334.2

4,325.3

+30% in Houston, TX

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

70.3°F

+5.9°F in Houston, TX

Annual Precipitation

11.5 in

54.6 in

+43.1 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.91/gal

$3.85/gal

+35% in Fresno, CA

Area: California vs Houston.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

33.4

16.4

+51% in Fresno, CA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.72

$24.61

+19% in Houston, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.16

+5% in Fresno, CA

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.73

+18% in Fresno, CA

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$2.19

+3% in Fresno, CA

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.56

+9% in Fresno, CA

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$1.90

+11% in Fresno, CA

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.61

+17% in Fresno, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / TX)

7.25%

6.25%

+1.0 pp in CA

Income Tax (top rate)

13.30%

None

+13.3 pp in CA

Fresno vs Houston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Houston?: Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Fresno, CA's $1,370, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fresno than in Houston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Fresno versus $46,000 in Houston.
Which has lower taxes, Fresno or Houston?: Fresno is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Houston under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).