Cost of Living in Fresno, CA
Fresno, CA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
102.2
U.S. average = 100 · #56 of 387
Median wage
$46,910
all jobs · $3,200/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$1,315
HUD fair market rent
▲2.4%
Pay trend: The median for all workers in Fresno, CA rose from $45,810 (May 2024) to $46,910 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Fresno, CA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
—
Prices in Fresno, CA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 102.2 | +2.2% |
| Housing | 95.7 | −4.3% |
| Goods | 105.2 | +5.2% |
| Utilities | 161.0 | +61.0% |
| Other services | 100.3 | +0.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Fresno, CA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,308 | $52,320/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,315 | $52,600/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,625 | $65,000/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,260 | $90,400/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,608 | $104,320/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Fresno, CA
Your take-home pay
$38,397
per year · effective tax rate 18.1%
$3,200Monthly
$1,600Twice a month
$1,477Every 2 weeks
$18.46Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,449
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,908
- Medicare (1.45%)$680
- California income tax$866
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$610
- Take-home pay$38,397
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Fresno, CA
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fresno, CA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Fresno, CA metro area are 102.2% of the U.S. average, with housing at 95.7%. It is the #56 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Fresno, CA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $61,295 in Fresno, CA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $46,910.
How much is rent in Fresno, CA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Fresno, CA are $1,308 for a studio, $1,315 for one bedroom, $1,625 for two bedrooms and $2,260 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Fresno, CA
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $101,010
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $78,690
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $76,770
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $100,750
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $78,800
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $54,890
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $45,340
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $125,420
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $75,580
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $46,500
- Nursing Assistant — $44,710
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,320
Protective Service Occupations
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $94,010
- Security Guard — $37,180
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,730
- Cooks, Fast Food — $39,620
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $39,480
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,260
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,320
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $40,710
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $37,980
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $73,970
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $50,790
- Retail Salesperson — $36,460
- Cashier — $35,270
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $71,820
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs — $59,300
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $54,170
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $50,100
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $48,120
- Office Clerks, General — $46,070
- Customer Service Representative — $46,070
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- Construction Laborer — $55,120
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $51,450
Production Occupations
- Slaughterer and Meat Packer — $39,420
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $38,440
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $55,740
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $43,360
- Light Truck Driver — $43,170
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $39,310
- Stocker and Order Filler — $39,130
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $35,060