| Index | Fresno | California | National |
| Cost of living | 123 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 120 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 130 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 121 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 125 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 120 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 112 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 136 | 127 | 100 |
The cost of living in Fresno affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Fresno is 123, which is 23% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Fresno may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Fresno falls within this bracket.
Housing costs significantly influence the Fresno cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 30.1%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
Everyday household expenses like cleaning products, laundry detergent, toiletries, and kitchen basics can quickly add up over time and make up 8% of the cost of living index. In Fresno, you can expect to spend 11.5% more than average on these recurring essentials, which increases your overall monthly cost of living.
The substantial and relentless rise in grocery prices definitely warrants some attention. Over the past two years, grocery expenses have escalated by more than 10%. Having said that, the situation in Fresno is even less favorable, with grocery prices here being 14.3% higher than the national average.
When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 35 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Fresno. The results indicated that 29% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 71% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.
Is Fresno affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Fresno, the median home price is 39.1% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 9.1% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Fresno boasting a median household income of $80,439, 1.1% lower than the national average.
Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.
Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.
Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Fresno, the housing index comes in at 30.1% higher than the national average.
The cost of living data for Fresno shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $117,499 | $9,792 | $2,741 | $3,525 |
| Renters | $51,134 | $4,261 | $1,193 | $1,534 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| California | 7.25% | 10.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| California | 1% | 13.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Monmouth, CA | 115 | 105 | 5.4% |
| Raisin City, CA | 385 | 110 | 9.8% |
| Calwa, CA | 2,452 | 111 | 10.9% |
| West Park, CA | 1,048 | 111 | 11.0% |
| Biola, CA | 1,469 | 108 | 7.6% |
| Fresno, CA | 543,090 | 123 | 23.1% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Québec, QC | 548,244 | n/a | |
| Surrey, BC | 560,150 | n/a | |
| Tucson, AZ | 564,632 | 100 | 0.3% |
| Mesa, AZ | 521,218 | 112 | 12.3% |
| Sacramento, CA | 520,516 | 139 | 39.2% |
| Fresno, CA | 543,090 | 123 | 23.1% |
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