Fresno vs Sacramento: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Fresno, CA and Sacramento, CA, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 541,528 | 523,600 |
| Median household income | $63,001 | $78,954 |
| Median home value | $321,800 | $450,500 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,227 | $1,592 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Fresno, CA and Sacramento, CA comes down to what you value most. Fresno has the lower median home value, and Fresno has the lower median rent.
Sacramento has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Sacramento?
- By median home value, Fresno is the cheaper of the two ($321,800 vs $450,500). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Fresno or Sacramento?
- Median household income is $63,001 in Fresno versus $78,954 in Sacramento, per the US Census Bureau.