College Station vs Fresno
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
College Station
Fresno
💡 The Verdict
College Station is 6% cheaper than Fresno overall. A $75,000 salary in College Station is equivalent to $79,455 in Fresno.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for College Station (left) vs Fresno (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in College Station versus Fresno. Differences shown from College Station perspective.
| Item | College Station | Fresno | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,010/mo | $930/mo | +$80.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,390/mo | $1,300/mo | +$90.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,880/mo | $1,660/mo | +$220.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.81 | $2.80 | +$0.01 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.29 | $3.98 | $-0.69 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.21 | $3.27 | $-0.06 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.62 | $5.81 | $-0.19 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.34 | $3.34 | $0.00 |
| Restaurant Meal | $11.65 | $14.87 | $-3.22 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in College Station has the same purchasing power as $79,455 in Fresno.
Conversely, $75,000 in Fresno equals $70,794 in College Station.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $4651 difference is driven by California having a higher state income tax rate. Texas details → · California details →
Reading These Numbers: College Station (101) vs Fresno (107)
College Station at 101 is 1% above the US average, while Fresno at 107 is 7% above average. The cost difference between these cities is relatively modest.
In College Station, the composite index of 101 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 101, followed by groceries (95), utilities (97), transportation (95), and healthcare (112). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,390/mo in College Station and $1,300/mo in Fresno, the annual rent difference is approximately $1,080.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $5,400.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $30,000.0 difference in median home prices between College Station and Fresno translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: College Station vs Fresno
Choosing between College Station and Fresno involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
When weighing College Station against Fresno, think beyond the composite index. Your personal savings rate, retirement timeline, and family size all influence which cost categories dominate your budget. Someone spending sixty percent of income on housing and childcare will experience these two cities very differently than a single renter whose largest variable expense is dining out. Model your own spending breakdown against the category indices above for the most realistic comparison.