Route comparison
Sacramento, CA vs Fresno, CA: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Sacramento, CA and Fresno, CA. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Sacramento, CA
CA
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 109.9
- Housing RPP
- 131.5
- Goods RPP
- 108.9
- 2-BR median rent
- $2,072/mo
California income tax 1%-13.3%. Significantly cheaper than Bay Area.
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%.
Equivalent salary
Fresno, CA is cheaper than Sacramento, CA by about 4.3% (RPP 109.9 to 105.2).
$60,000 in Sacramento, CA
-> $57,434
in Fresno, CA
$100,000 in Sacramento, CA
-> $95,723
in Fresno, CA
$150,000 in Sacramento, CA
-> $143,585
in Fresno, 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: Sacramento, CA vs Fresno, CA
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Sacramento, CA
- Net people
- −9,301
- Net rank
- #47 of 65
- Top origin share
- 6%
- Top destination share
- 2%
Largest source: Santa Clara County, CA. Largest destination: Yuba County, CA.
Fresno, 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.
Rent delta: Fresno, CA is $629/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Sacramento, CA. Housing RPP moves from 131.5 to 96.3.
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 Fresno, CA cheaper or more expensive than Sacramento, CA?
- Fresno, CA (RPP 105.2) is cheaper than Sacramento, CA (RPP 109.9) by about 4.3%.
- What salary do I need in Fresno, CA if I earn $100,000 in Sacramento, CA?
- You would need approximately $95,723 in Fresno, CA to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Sacramento, CA. Formula: $100,000 x (105.2 / 109.9).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Sacramento, CA or Fresno, CA?
- For 2021-2022, Sacramento, CA had a net loss of 9,301 people, while Fresno, CA had a net loss of 2,495 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.