Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Nashua?

Fresno, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,380 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Fresno versus $55,000 in Nashua.

Which has lower taxes, Fresno or Nashua?

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

Fresno vs Nashua Cost of Living 2026

Fresno

California

$1,380/mo est.

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/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 $1,660 in Nashua, NH. Overall, Fresno, CA is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,804 in Fresno, CA and $92,457 in Nashua, NH — about 28% higher in Nashua, NH. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Fresno, CA

Nashua, NH

Rent

Studio

$1,072

$1,127

+5% in Nashua, NH

1 Bedroom

$1,042

$1,383

+33% in Nashua, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,293

$1,699

+31% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,688

$1,951

+16% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$348,500

$373,100

+7% in Nashua, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$66,804

$92,457

+38% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,910

$56,530

+21% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.4 yr

39.7 yr

+7.3 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

49.7%

56.4%

+6.7 pp in Nashua, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

24.9%

40.5%

+15.6 pp in Nashua, NH

Avg Commute

22.3 min

25.3 min

+3.0 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

742.2

164.9

+78% in Fresno, CA

Property Crime

3,335.3

1,269

+62% 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

49.2°F

+15.2°F in Fresno, CA

Annual Precipitation

11.5 in

44.6 in

+33.1 in in Nashua, NH

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

27.0

+22% in Fresno, CA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.33

$21.67

+7% in Nashua, NH

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

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Fresno, CA

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Nashua, NH

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 / NH)

7.25%

None

+7.3 pp in CA

Income Tax (top rate)

13.30%

None

+13.3 pp in CA

Fresno vs Nashua — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Nashua?: Fresno, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,380 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fresno than in Nashua?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Fresno versus $55,000 in Nashua.
Which has lower taxes, Fresno or Nashua?: Fresno is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Nashua under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no 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).