Cost of Living: Fresno, CA vs Phoenix, AZ

Quick rent-and-take-home comparison

Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $3,974/mo in Fresno, CA versus $4,370/mo in Phoenix, AZ. In the model, rent is about 19.29% of gross in Fresno, CA versus 21.24% in Phoenix, AZ, so Fresno, CA tends to feel more affordable for rent.

Take-home in Fresno, CA
$3,974/mo
Income level: near
Take-home in Phoenix, AZ
$4,370/mo
Income level: near
Rent share (1BR) in Fresno, CA
19.29%
COLI tier: mid-range
Rent share (1BR) in Phoenix, AZ
21.24%
COLI tier: mid-range

Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Fresno, CA and Phoenix, AZ.

At a glance

  • Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Phoenix, AZ
  • Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Fresno, CA
  • Lower home prices: Fresno, CA
  • Higher median household income: Phoenix, AZ

Cost of Living Index

Fresno, CA: 108.5 (U.S. = 100) · Phoenix, AZ: 102.4 (U.S. = 100)

Phoenix, AZ has a lower cost-of-living index than Fresno, CA, so a given salary generally stretches further there.

Median Rent

Fresno, CA: $1,258/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Phoenix, AZ: $1,385/mo

Median rent in Phoenix, AZ is $127/mo higher than in Fresno, CA.

Median Home Price

Fresno, CA: $348,500 · Phoenix, AZ: $381,900

Median home price in Phoenix, AZ is $33,400 higher than in Fresno, CA.

Median Household Income

Fresno, CA: $66,804 · Phoenix, AZ: $77,041

Phoenix, AZ has a higher median household income than Fresno, CA by $10,237.

Fresno, CA overview · Phoenix, AZ overview · Popular comparisons