Uprootmap
San Jose vs Fresno
San Jose 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 Jose to Fresno
In 2022-2023, 628 households filed a move from San Jose to Fresno (about 1,157 people, average adjusted gross income $85,952). 394 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $3,011 in San Jose and $1,356 in Fresno. San Jose 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 136% in San Jose.
Fresno averages 261 sunny days, with July highs around 105°F and January nights around 39°F. San Jose is 257 sunny days, 84°F in July, 42°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Fresno and 29 in San Jose.
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, 628 households moved San Jose → Fresno (about 1,157 people, average AGI $85,952). 394 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 Jose and Fresno changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 113 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,800–$3,400
- Container or pod
- $1,200–$2,300
- Rent a truck
- $450–$850
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Dig into Fresno
Questions
Is Fresno cheaper than San Jose after tax and rent?
Yes. Fresno leaves about $2,025 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $3,011 in San Jose 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 Jose 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.