Fresno, CA vs Reno, NV: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Reno, NV has a modeled overall cost index 3.8% higher than Fresno, CA.

Fresno, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,615 / month
Reno, NV · modeled 2BR rent: $1,870 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Fresno, CA and Reno, NV using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Fresno, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $477/month in Reno, NV

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $155,721 in Reno, NV

Regional cost estimates: Fresno, CA uses Fresno, CA Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 3.8%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$477

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$5.7K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Fresno, CA

Population:542K

Cost Index:

104.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$319K

Reno, NV

Population:264K

Cost Index:

108.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$450K

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Fresno, CA

The Golden State

542K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 542K residents.

Reno, NV

The Silver State

264K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Nevada, this city has a population of 264K residents.

💡 Advantage: Nevada has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Fresno, CA vs Reno, NV

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Fresno, CA	Reno, NV	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,467/mo	$2,809/mo	↑ $342more	13.9%
Healthcare	$472/mo	$594/mo	↑ $122more	25.9%
Transportation	$1,387/mo	$1,451/mo	↑ $64.20more	4.6%
Groceries	$1,024/mo	$977/mo	↓ $46.96less	4.6%
All Utilities	$498/mo	$478/mo	↓ $20.55less	4.1%
Other	$1,652/mo	$1,668/mo	↑ $15.74more	1.0%

Housing

↑ 13.9%

Fresno, CA

$2,467

Reno, NV

$2,809

Difference

$342

Healthcare

↑ 25.9%

Fresno, CA

$472

Reno, NV

$594

Difference

$122

Transportation

↑ 4.6%

Fresno, CA

$1,387

Reno, NV

$1,451

Difference

$64.20

Groceries

↓ 4.6%

Fresno, CA

$1,024

Reno, NV

$977

Difference

$46.96

less

All Utilities

↓ 4.1%

Fresno, CA

$498

Reno, NV

$478

Difference

$20.55

less

Other

↑ 1.0%

Fresno, CA

$1,652

Reno, NV

$1,668

Difference

$15.74

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,305

To$1,290

↓ $15.00

1 Bed

From$1,315

To$1,490

↑ $175

2 Bed

From$1,615

To$1,870

↑ $255

3 Bed

From$2,245

To$2,540

↑ $295

Fresno, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,100–$2,010/mo

Reno, NVZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,240–$1,820/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Fresno, CA

$7,977

Monthly in Reno, NV

$477

Difference

Home Values

Fresno

Reno

$319K

Median Value

$450K

↓ -0.9%

YoY Change

↓ -0.9%

↑ +32%

5-Year Change

↑ +27.1%

$197K - $504K

Price Range

$345K - $1.07M

Homes in Reno are 41% more expensive than Fresno

Calculate payment - Fresno Calculate payment - Reno

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $10.6K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$886

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

7.1%

Rate difference

Fresno, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Reno, NV

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Nevada State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Fresno, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Reno, NV Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%

Property Tax:0.6%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

Fresno, CA

20/100

0.6% sidewalk tags · 7% cycling tags

Reno, NV

34/100

9.2% sidewalk tags · 5.7% cycling tags

Environment

Fresno

Reno

67 Moderate

Air Quality

50 Good

19.4%

Good Air Days

51.4%

99 High

Climate Risk

97 High

🔥🌊🌡

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🫨

▲+2.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

99 days

Heat Days >95°F

46 days

▲+2.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

99 days

Heat Days >95°F

46 days

Before moving from Fresno, CA to Reno, NV

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Reno, NV for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Fresno, CA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Fresno to Reno moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Reno, NV by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Fresno, CA vs Reno, NV

How do the cost estimates for Fresno, CA and Reno, NV compare?

Reno, NV has a modeled overall cost index 3.8% higher than Fresno, CA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Fresno, CA, the model estimates $155,721 in Reno, NV. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Fresno, CA and Reno, NV?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,615/month in Fresno, CA and $1,870/month in Reno, NV. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between California and Nevada on TaxTakeHome.com