Uprootmap
San Francisco vs Fresno
San Francisco 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 San Francisco to Fresno
In 2022-2023, 710 households filed a move from San Francisco to Fresno (about 1,232 people, average adjusted gross income $81,831). 583 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $2,635 in San Francisco and $1,356 in Fresno. San Francisco 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 134% in San Francisco.
Fresno averages 261 sunny days, with July highs around 105°F and January nights around 39°F. San Francisco is 259 sunny days, 68°F in July, 46°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Fresno and 32 in San Francisco.
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, 710 households moved San Francisco → Fresno (about 1,232 people, average AGI $81,831). 583 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 San Francisco and Fresno changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 187 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,900–$3,550
- Container or pod
- $1,300–$2,400
- Rent a truck
- $500–$950
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Dig into Fresno
Questions
Is Fresno cheaper than San Francisco after tax and rent?
Yes. Fresno leaves about $1,490 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $2,635 in San Francisco and $1,356 in Fresno.
Does Fresno have state income tax?
Fresno is in California, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from San Francisco 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.