Living Cost Compare
Fresno

California

$1,370/mo est.

vs
San Antonio

Texas

$1,270/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 $1,270 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, San Antonio, TX is roughly 7% 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 $62,917 in San Antonio, 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
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,072
$1,052
+2% in Fresno, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$1,084
+4% in San Antonio, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,293
$1,327
+3% in San Antonio, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,545
+8% in Fresno, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$348,500
$219,700
+37% in Fresno, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$66,804
$62,917
+6% in Fresno, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,910
$47,010
+0% in San Antonio, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
34.6 yr
+2.2 yr in San Antonio, TX
Homeownership
49.7%
52.4%
+2.7 pp in San Antonio, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.9%
28.7%
+3.8 pp in San Antonio, TX
Avg Commute
22.3 min
24.6 min
+2.3 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
741.9
605
+18% in Fresno, CA
Property Crime
3,334.2
4,665
+40% in San Antonio, 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
68.5°F
+4.1°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
11.5 in
34.9 in
+23.4 in in San Antonio, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.91/gal
$3.96/gal
+33% in Fresno, CA

Area: California vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$1.30
+4% in San Antonio, TX

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
16.4
+51% in Fresno, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$24.61
+19% in San Antonio, 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 San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or San Antonio?
San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% 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 San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Fresno versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Fresno or San Antonio?
Fresno is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); San Antonio 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).