Living Cost Compare
Fresno

California

$1,370/mo est.

vs
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/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 $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, Fresno, CA is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,804 in Fresno, CA and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 17% higher in Los Angeles, 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.

Fresno, CA
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,072
$1,468
+37% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$1,688
+62% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,293
$2,148
+66% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,688
$2,489
+47% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$348,500
$879,500
+152% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$66,804
$80,366
+20% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,910
$55,850
+19% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
36.9 yr
+4.5 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
49.7%
36.3%
+13.4 pp in Fresno, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.9%
37.8%
+12.9 pp in Los Angeles, CA
Avg Commute
22.3 min
31.1 min
+8.8 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
741.9
730.5
+2% in Fresno, CA
Property Crime
3,334.2
1,501.2
+55% 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
67.0°F
+2.6°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
11.5 in
21.2 in
+9.7 in in Los Angeles, CA

Gas

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

Area: California vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$1.75
+40% in Los Angeles, CA

Adult base one-way fare — FAX vs LA Metro (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

Fresno vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Los Angeles?
Fresno, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fresno than in Los Angeles?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Fresno versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, Fresno or Los Angeles?
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).