Median rent is 53% lower in Fresno ($1,421/mo vs $2,997/mo). Buying is cheaper in Fresno, where the median home runs $374,800 versus $1,191,500. Households earn more in Irvine ($136,719 vs $70,991 a year).
City A
Fresno, CA
City B
Irvine, CA
How much would you need to earn in Irvine, CA to maintain your standard of living from Fresno, CA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Fresno
California
Irvine
California
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Fresno — median rent of $1,421/mo versus $2,997/mo in Irvine, a 53% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Irvine: the median home is $1,191,500 versus $374,800 in Fresno — 69% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Fresno
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Irvine
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Fresno (avg AQI 53.0) but not yet for Irvine.
Pick Irvine if you prioritize higher median household income ($136,719/yr).
Pick Fresno if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,421/mo median).
Is Fresno cheaper than Irvine?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Fresno vs Irvine?
Median rent is $1,421/mo in Fresno, CA and $2,997/mo in Irvine, CA. Fresno, CA has the lower rent by about 53%.
Which has higher salaries — Fresno or Irvine?
Median household income is $70,991 in Fresno, CA and $136,719 in Irvine, CA. Irvine, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Fresno or Irvine?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Irvine to match my Fresno income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
