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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The gap is staggering: 125 points separate #1 Fresno (index 99) from #60 San Francisco (index 224) within California. That spread means your housing, groceries, and daily expenses can cost 56% more depending on which city you choose. Here are all 60 cities, ranked with 2026 data.
#1 Ranked: Fresno — cost index 99, rent $1,693/mo, income $66,804
0 of 60 cities keep rent under 30% of $30K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fresno | $1,693 | 68% | 99 | Details |
| 2 | Visalia | $1,807 | 72% | 106 | Details |
| 3 | Bakersfield | $1,887 | 75% | 110 | Details |
| 4 | San Bernardino | $1,923 | 77% | 112 | Details |
| 5 | Sacramento | $2,006 | 80% | 117 | Details |
| 6 | Stockton | $2,010 | 80% | 117 | Details |
| 7 | Modesto | $2,042 | 82% | 119 | Details |
| 8 | Vallejo | $2,137 | 85% | 125 | Details |
| 9 | Victorville | $2,181 | 87% | 127 | Details |
| 10 | Downey | $2,236 | 89% | 130 | Details |
| 11 | Long Beach | $2,287 | 91% | 134 | Details |
| 12 | Clovis | $2,311 | 92% | 135 | Details |
| 13 | Riverside | $2,346 | 94% | 137 | Details |
| 14 | Moreno Valley | $2,356 | 94% | 138 | Details |
| 15 | Lancaster | $2,381 | 95% | 139 | Details |
| 16 | Santa Maria | $2,415 | 97% | 141 | Details |
| 17 | Fairfield | $2,425 | 97% | 142 | Details |
| 18 | Roseville | $2,489 | 100% | 145 | Details |
| 19 | Ontario | $2,493 | 100% | 146 | Details |
| 20 | Concord | $2,508 | 100% | 146 | Details |
| 21 | Garden Grove | $2,509 | 100% | 146 | Details |
| 22 | Jurupa Valley | $2,509 | 100% | 146 | Details |
| 23 | Oakland | $2,527 | 101% | 148 | Details |
| 24 | Murrieta | $2,531 | 101% | 148 | Details |
| 25 | Pomona | $2,534 | 101% | 148 | Details |
| 26 | Escondido | $2,545 | 102% | 148 | Details |
| 27 | Santa Rosa | $2,550 | 102% | 149 | Details |
| 28 | Hayward | $2,566 | 103% | 150 | Details |
| 29 | Salinas | $2,573 | 103% | 150 | Details |
| 30 | Elk Grove | $2,640 | 106% | 154 | Details |
| 31 | Menifee | $2,686 | 107% | 157 | Details |
| 32 | Corona | $2,701 | 108% | 158 | Details |
| 33 | Anaheim | $2,711 | 108% | 158 | Details |
| 34 | Los Angeles | $2,742 | 110% | 160 | Details |
| 35 | Fullerton | $2,762 | 110% | 161 | Details |
| 36 | Santa Clarita | $2,779 | 111% | 162 | Details |
| 37 | Temecula | $2,796 | 112% | 163 | Details |
| 38 | Santa Ana | $2,804 | 112% | 164 | Details |
| 39 | Palmdale | $2,807 | 112% | 164 | Details |
| 40 | Rancho Cucamonga | $2,824 | 113% | 165 | Details |
| 41 | Torrance | $2,852 | 114% | 166 | Details |
| 42 | Simi Valley | $2,879 | 115% | 168 | Details |
| 43 | San Diego | $2,893 | 116% | 169 | Details |
| 44 | Chula Vista | $2,904 | 116% | 170 | Details |
| 45 | Oceanside | $2,941 | 118% | 172 | Details |
| 46 | Antioch | $2,946 | 118% | 172 | Details |
| 47 | Oxnard | $2,966 | 119% | 173 | Details |
| 48 | Fremont | $3,012 | 120% | 176 | Details |
| 49 | Huntington Beach | $3,023 | 121% | 176 | Details |
| 50 | Berkeley | $3,073 | 123% | 179 | Details |
| 51 | Costa Mesa | $3,104 | 124% | 181 | Details |
| 52 | Fontana | $3,122 | 125% | 182 | Details |
| 53 | Orange | $3,200 | 128% | 187 | Details |
| 54 | San Jose | $3,222 | 129% | 188 | Details |
| 55 | Irvine | $3,361 | 134% | 196 | Details |
| 56 | Thousand Oaks | $3,371 | 135% | 197 | Details |
| 57 | Carlsbad | $3,463 | 139% | 202 | Details |
| 58 | Sunnyvale | $3,478 | 139% | 203 | Details |
| 59 | Santa Clara | $3,673 | 147% | 214 | Details |
| 60 | San Francisco | $3,830 | 153% | 224 | Details |
The gap is staggering: 125 points separate #1 Fresno (index 99) from #60 San Francisco (index 224) within California. That spread means your housing, groceries, and daily expenses can cost 56% more depending on which city you choose. Here are all 60 cities, ranked with 2026 data.
Fresno earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 99 cost index sits 12 points below the national baseline, and the $66,804 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $386,426 — $80,944 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 99, while Healthcare trails at 100.
What's equally notable: Here's the state-level backdrop: California averages a 155 cost index, $2,629/mo rent, and $102,752 income across 61 cities. That's $734 more than the national rent average. Sky-high costs from the coast to the valley — and that context shapes every city in this ranking.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. And for many people, the difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
545,716 residents · California
A closer look at Fresno: the cost index of 99 — we had to double-check this one — breaks down to a Housing index of 99 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 100 (weakest). Median rent is $1,693/month — 11% below the national median — while household income sits at $66,804, meaning locals spend about 30% of income on rent. No major red flags in that number. That exceeds the recommended 30% threshold — affordability here depends on earning above the median.
144,998 residents · California
Visalia earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 106 cost index sits 5 points below the national baseline, and the $79,952 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $393,327 — $74,043 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Healthcare leads the way at 101, while Housing trails at 106.
413,381 residents · California
The #3 spot goes to Bakersfield, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,887/month — saving renters $96 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Healthcare is the standout at index 102, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 110. A 29% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone (that's pre-tax, of course).
223,728 residents · California
Here's San Bernardino by the numbers — and there's a lot to like. Cost index: 112. Rent: $1,923/month. Income: $63,988/year. Home price: $483,764. Population: 223,728. The strongest category is Healthcare at 102; the most expensive is Housing at 112. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are costing renters $336 more per year vs. the national median. Year over year, that savings rate is portfolio-grade.
526,384 residents · California
In plain English: What does daily life actually cost in Sacramento? Start with the 29% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. On the category level, Healthcare (index 103) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 117) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $83,753 and homes at $472,863 round out a profile that ranks #5 for clear reasons.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Fresno | 13.3% | 8.85% | 0.71% | $20,347 |
2Visalia | 13.3% | 8.85% | 0.71% | $20,347 |
3Bakersfield | 13.3% | 8.85% | 0.71% | $20,347 |
4San Bernardino | 13.3% | 8.85% | 0.71% | $20,347 |
5Sacramento | 13.3% | 8.85% | 0.71% | $20,347 |
6Stockton | 13.3% | 8.85% | 0.71% | $20,347 |
7Modesto | 13.3% | 8.85% | 0.71% | $20,347 |
8Vallejo | 13.3% | 8.85% | 0.71% | $20,347 |
9Victorville | 13.3% | 8.85% | 0.71% | $20,347 |
10Downey | 13.3% | 8.85% | 0.71% | $20,347 |
We model what a $30K salary looks like after taxes in each city: federal income tax (marginal brackets), FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. Then we compare take-home against local rent and costs to determine where the salary stretches furthest. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Fresno ranks #1 in California for this analysis with a cost index of 99 and median income of $66,804.
Yes. On a $30K salary in Fresno, rent would consume about 68% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. It's tight — consider a roommate or nearby suburb.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Fresno (ranked #1) has a cost index of 99 and rent of $1,693/mo, while San Francisco (ranked #60) has a cost index of 224 and rent of $3,830/mo — a 125-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Fresno is $1,693/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $202 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 13.3% state income tax, estimated take-home on $30K in Fresno is approximately $20,347/year ($1,696/month). After median rent of $1,693/month, you'd have roughly $31/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Fresno is $386,426, which is 5.8× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
California has a 13.3% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.85%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.71%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.