Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Wilmington?

Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% 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 Wilmington?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Fresno versus $41,000 in Wilmington.

Which has lower taxes, Fresno or Wilmington?

Fresno is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Fresno vs Wilmington Cost of Living 2026

Fresno

California

$1,370/mo est.

Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 10% 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 $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 17% higher in Fresno, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Fresno, CA

Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio

$1,072

$1,103

+3% in Wilmington, DE

1 Bedroom

$1,042

$1,024

+2% in Fresno, CA

2 Bedroom

$1,293

$1,213

+6% in Fresno, CA

3 Bedroom

$1,688

$1,394

+17% in Fresno, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$348,500

$224,500

+36% in Fresno, CA

Income

Median Household Income

$66,804

$55,269

+17% in Fresno, CA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,910

$54,310

+16% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.4 yr

37.0 yr

+4.6 yr in Wilmington, DE

Homeownership

49.7%

46.0%

+3.7 pp in Fresno, CA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

24.9%

33.1%

+8.2 pp in Wilmington, DE

Avg Commute

22.3 min

23.0 min

+0.7 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

742.2

1,138.2

+53% in Wilmington, DE

Property Crime

3,335.3

3,182.4

+5% 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

54.9°F

+9.5°F in Fresno, CA

Annual Precipitation

11.5 in

43.1 in

+31.6 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.40/gal

$3.86/gal

+28% 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)

33.3

19.4

+42% in Fresno, CA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.72

$22.51

+9% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Fresno, CA

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Fresno, CA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Wilmington, DE

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Fresno, CA

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Fresno, CA

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Fresno, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / DE)

7.25%

None

+7.3 pp in CA

Income Tax (top rate)

13.30%

6.60%

+6.7 pp in CA

Fresno vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Wilmington?: Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% 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 Wilmington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Fresno versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Fresno or Wilmington?: Fresno is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).