Fresno, CA vs Riverside, CA
Simple answer
You'd likely save $418 a month in Fresno.
This is the HUD 2-bedroom fair-market rent for October 2026 through September 2027. It is not your lease.
The largest cost gap in this pair is housing prices. The BEA housing price parity differs by 33.6 points (Fresno 95.7, Riverside 129.3).
California taxes wages at rates up to 13.30%. California taxes wages at rates up to 13.30%. Combined sales tax differs by 0.0 percentage points, higher in California. The effective property tax gap is 0.00 percentage points, higher in California.
Both metros are in California, so benefit eligibility in this tool does not change with the move. Rent and price levels still differ.
A $75,000 salary in Fresno lines up with about $78,145 in Riverside on the 2024 all-items price parity. Census median gross rent and the commute figures are 2024. Fair Market Rents are fiscal year 2027.
Fresno
Fresno, CA
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $1,685
- HUD area
- Fresno, CA HUD Metro FMR Area
- Census median gross rent
- $1,513
- All-items price parity
- 102.2
- Goods price parity
- 105.2
- Utilities price parity
- 161.0
- Mean commute
- 24.7 min
- Median household income
- $74,983
Riverside
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $2,103
- HUD area
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA
- Census median gross rent
- $2,006
- All-items price parity
- 106.4
- Goods price parity
- 101.4
- Utilities price parity
- 148.6
- Mean commute
- 34.2 min
- Median household income
- $91,013
Equivalent salary
The first number keeps the same place in the national price level. The second also runs 2026 federal income tax, employee Social Security and Medicare, and a simplified state income tax. Groceries use the BEA goods price parity, not a grocery receipt.
$78,145
Salary in Riverside that matches the 2024 all-items regional price parity.
$78,970
Gross salary in Riverside whose after-tax pay buys the same basket, using price parities.
$93,605
Scales the salary by the ratio of HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents. Rent is not the whole budget.
Taxes on the two sides of the move
| Tax | California | California |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax on wages | up to 13.30% | up to 13.30% |
| Combined sales tax, Jan 1, 2026 | 9.0% | 9.0% |
| Effective property tax, ACS 2024 median / median | 0.71% | 0.71% |
On a $400,000 home, the state median effective rate implies about $2,828 a year in California and $2,828 in California. That illustration is not a local bill. Childcare prices are not in the verified dataset for these metros.
Benefits if you land in California
Fresno and Riverside are in California. The benefit rules in this tool are statewide, so the statuses match. Rent and prices still differ.
Food stamps (SNAP)
FresnoLikely eligible
RiversideLikely eligible
Medicaid and CHIP
FresnoLikely eligible
RiversideLikely eligible
WIC
FresnoLikely eligible
RiversideLikely eligible
School meals
FresnoLikely eligible
RiversideLikely eligible
LIHEAP
FresnoMaybe
RiversideMaybe
Earned Income Tax Credit
FresnoLikely eligible
RiversideLikely eligible
Child Tax Credit
FresnoLikely eligible
RiversideLikely eligible
Marketplace premium tax credits
FresnoUnlikely
RiversideUnlikely
Lifeline phone and internet
FresnoLikely eligible
RiversideLikely eligible
SSI
FresnoUnlikely
RiversideUnlikely
| Program | Fresno | Riverside |
|---|---|---|
| Food stamps (SNAP) | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Medicaid and CHIP | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| WIC | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| School meals | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| LIHEAP | Maybe | Maybe |
| Earned Income Tax Credit | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Child Tax Credit | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Marketplace premium tax credits | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Lifeline phone and internet | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| SSI | Unlikely | Unlikely |
Related comparisons
From Fresno
The eight largest 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent gaps from Fresno.
- Fresno and San Francisco · rent gap $2,012
- Fresno and San Jose · rent gap $1,587
- Fresno and Boston · rent gap $1,323
- Fresno and New York · rent gap $1,286
- Fresno and Los Angeles · rent gap $1,279
- Fresno and San Diego · rent gap $1,138
- Fresno and Miami · rent gap $879
- Fresno and Seattle · rent gap $864
Nearby metros
How the salary and tax math works · The reverse city order redirects to this address.