Uprootmap
Modesto vs Fresno
Modesto and Fresno
Photo: JMora24 / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Fresno are above the US rate in this release, 8.3 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Modesto to Fresno
In 2022-2023, 292 households filed a move from Modesto to Fresno (about 495 people, average adjusted gross income $48,849). 282 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,463 in Modesto and $1,356 in Fresno. Modesto has a state tax on wages. Fresno has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Fresno is 85% of the national level for the same work, against 92% in Modesto.
Fresno averages 261 sunny days, with July highs around 105°F and January nights around 39°F. Modesto is 252 sunny days, 104°F in July, 42°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Fresno and 31 in Modesto.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 292 households moved Modesto → Fresno (about 495 people, average AGI $48,849). 282 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Modesto and Fresno changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 105 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,650–$3,050
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,050
- Rent a truck
- $400–$750
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Dig into Fresno
Questions
Is Fresno cheaper than Modesto after tax and rent?
Yes. Fresno leaves about $144 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,463 in Modesto and $1,356 in Fresno.
Does Fresno have state income tax?
Fresno is in California, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Modesto to Fresno?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.