Route comparison
Fresno, CA vs Riverside, CA: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Fresno, CA and Riverside, CA. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Fresno, CA
CA
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 105.2
- Housing RPP
- 96.3
- Goods RPP
- 108.9
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,443/mo
California income tax 1%-13.3%.
Riverside, CA
CA
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 106.4
- Housing RPP
- 129.2
- Goods RPP
- 102.4
- 2-BR median rent
- $2,010/mo
California income tax 1%-13.3%.
Equivalent salary
Riverside, CA is more expensive than Fresno, CA by about 1.1% (RPP 105.2 to 106.4).
$60,000 in Fresno, CA
-> $60,684
in Riverside, CA
$100,000 in Fresno, CA
-> $101,141
in Riverside, CA
$150,000 in Fresno, CA
-> $151,711
in Riverside, CA
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.
Migration signal: Fresno, CA vs Riverside, CA
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Fresno, CA
- Net people
- −2,495
- Net rank
- #37 of 65
- Top origin share
- 8%
- Top destination share
- 7%
Largest source: Tulare County, CA. Largest destination: Tulare County, CA.
Riverside, CA
- Net people
- +4,886
- Net rank
- #21 of 65
- Top origin share
- 31%
- Top destination share
- 15%
Largest source: Los Angeles County, CA. Largest destination: Los Angeles County, CA.
Rent delta: Riverside, CA is $567/mo higher for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Fresno, CA. Housing RPP moves from 96.3 to 129.2.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Riverside, CA cheaper or more expensive than Fresno, CA?
- Riverside, CA (RPP 106.4) is more expensive than Fresno, CA (RPP 105.2) by about 1.1%.
- What salary do I need in Riverside, CA if I earn $100,000 in Fresno, CA?
- You would need approximately $101,141 in Riverside, CA to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Fresno, CA. Formula: $100,000 x (106.4 / 105.2).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Fresno, CA or Riverside, CA?
- For 2021-2022, Fresno, CA had a net loss of 2,495 people, while Riverside, CA had a net gain of 4,886 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.