Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Raleigh?

Fresno, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Raleigh, NC's $1,490, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Fresno versus $53,000 in Raleigh.

Which has lower taxes, Fresno or Raleigh?

Fresno is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax).

Fresno vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Fresno

California

$1,370/mo est.

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Fresno, CA is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,804 in Fresno, CA and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 19% higher in Raleigh, NC. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Fresno, CA

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$1,072

$1,301

+21% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$1,042

$1,323

+27% in Raleigh, NC

2 Bedroom

$1,293

$1,462

+13% in Raleigh, NC

3 Bedroom

$1,688

$1,715

+2% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$348,500

$377,800

+8% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income

$66,804

$82,424

+23% in Raleigh, NC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,910

$51,990

+11% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.4 yr

34.7 yr

+2.3 yr in Raleigh, NC

Homeownership

49.7%

51.2%

+1.5 pp in Raleigh, NC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

24.9%

52.9%

+28.0 pp in Raleigh, NC

Avg Commute

22.3 min

23.4 min

+1.1 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

741.9

491.5

+34% in Fresno, CA

Property Crime

3,334.2

2,838

+15% 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

60.6°F

+3.8°F in Fresno, CA

Annual Precipitation

11.5 in

46.0 in

+34.5 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.91/gal

$4.30/gal

+27% in Fresno, CA

Area: California vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

33.4

16.0

+52% in Fresno, CA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.72

$17.50

+16% in Fresno, CA

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 / NC)

7.25%

4.75%

+2.5 pp in CA

Income Tax (top rate)

13.30%

3.99%

+9.3 pp in CA

Fresno vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Raleigh?: Fresno, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Raleigh, NC's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fresno than in Raleigh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Fresno versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Fresno or Raleigh?: Fresno is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).