What is the cost of living in Fresno, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fresno has an overall cost of living index of 122, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Fresno has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Fresno ranks as #107 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Fresno ranks as the #527 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Fresno, check out:
Fresno Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fresno. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fresno is 115.
The Groceries index in Fresno is 119.
The Health index in Fresno is 130.
The Housing index in Fresno is 119.
The Transportation index in Fresno is 126.
The Utilities index in Fresno is 119.
| Living Expense | Fresno | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 122 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 115 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 119 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 130 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 119 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 126 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 121 | 100 |
Fresno Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Fresno Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Fresno, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Fresno is $391,328.
The Median Rent in Fresno is $1,421.
The Median Income in Fresno is $70,991.
The Home Value To Income in Fresno is 5.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fresno is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Fresno | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $391,328 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,421 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $70,991 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.5x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Fresno, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Fresno Services costs vs. California
| Item | Fresno | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.56 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.64 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $23.78 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.83 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $76.57 | $45.56 |
Detailed Fresno Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Fresno | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.21 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.1 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.99 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.96 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.86 | $3.7 |
Detailed Fresno Health costs vs. California
| Item | Fresno | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $157.88 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $166.71 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $148.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fresno Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Fresno | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.51 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fresno Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Fresno | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $299.78 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $191.56 | $192.25 |
Fresno SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fresno
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fresno. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Clovis, CA has a cost of living index of 130, 1.1x Fresno.
Sanger, CA has a cost of living index of 121, 1.0x Fresno.
Selma, CA has a cost of living index of 116, 1.0x Fresno.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fresno |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clovis, CA | 124,725 | 130 | 1.1x |
| Sanger, CA | 26,699 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Selma, CA | 24,659 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Kerman, CA | 16,815 | 122 | 1.0x |
| Parlier, CA | 14,507 | 111 | 0.9x |
| Fowler, CA | 7,094 | 123 | 1.0x |
| Old Fig Garden, CA | 5,503 | 139 | 1.1x |
