City profile
Fresno, CA cost of living
CA · BLS RPP 105.2
Overall RPP
105.2
US = 100
Housing RPP
96.3
Housing component
Goods RPP
108.9
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$1,443/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where Fresno, CA sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#18 of 67
+5.2 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
+6.8
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#40 of 67
-163/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of Fresno, CA
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the Fresno, CA metro.
Moved in
29,181
people · 15,987 households
Moved out
31,676
people · 17,504 households
Net
−2,495
net loss of residents
Net migration rank
#37 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
-2,391
median -104 people
Largest flow share
8% in / 7% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Tulare County, CA 2,257
- Los Angeles County, CA 1,716
- Santa Clara County, CA 1,275
- Merced County, CA 1,142
- Kings County, CA 1,081
Where residents moved to
- Tulare County, CA 2,189
- Los Angeles County, CA 1,257
- Kings County, CA 1,238
- Merced County, CA 874
- Sacramento County, CA 791
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in Fresno, CA?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in Fresno, CA | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $52,600 | $50,000 x (105.2/100) |
| $75,000 | $78,900 | $75,000 x (105.2/100) |
| $100,000 | $105,200 | $100,000 x (105.2/100) |
| $125,000 | $131,500 | $125,000 x (105.2/100) |
| $150,000 | $157,800 | $150,000 x (105.2/100) |
| $200,000 | $210,400 | $200,000 x (105.2/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
California income tax 1%-13.3%.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Fresno, CA?
- Fresno, CA has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 105.2 (US average = 100). It is 5.2% more expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in Fresno, CA?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $105,200 in Fresno, CA to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in Fresno, CA?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Fresno, CA is approximately $1,443 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from Fresno, CA?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 29,181 people moved into the Fresno, CA metro and 31,676 moved out — a net loss of roughly 2,495 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Tulare County, CA.
Curated nearby & similar cities
Similar verified metros by RPP
These links are chosen by data proximity: closest overall RPP to Fresno, CA, with HUD 2-BR rent as a tie-breaker.
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