Fresno vs Lakewood
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Fresno
Lakewood
💡 The Verdict
Fresno is 0% cheaper than Lakewood overall. A $75,000 salary in Fresno is equivalent to $75,000 in Lakewood.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Fresno (left) vs Lakewood (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Fresno versus Lakewood. Differences shown from Fresno perspective.
| Item | Fresno | Lakewood | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $930/mo | $1,050/mo | $-120.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,300/mo | $1,400/mo | $-100.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,660/mo | $1,950/mo | $-290.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.80 | $3.06 | $-0.26 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.98 | $3.64 | +$0.34 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.27 | $3.59 | $-0.32 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.81 | $6.00 | $-0.19 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.34 | $3.31 | +$0.03 |
| Restaurant Meal | $14.87 | $17.14 | $-2.27 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Fresno has the same purchasing power as $75,000 in Lakewood.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lakewood equals $75,000 in Fresno.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $1350 difference is driven by California having a higher state income tax rate. California details → · Colorado details →
Reading These Numbers: Fresno (107) vs Lakewood (107)
Fresno at 107 is 7% above the US average, while Lakewood at 107 is 7% above average. The cost difference between these cities is relatively modest.
In Fresno, the composite index of 107 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 111, followed by groceries (101), utilities (106), transportation (109), and healthcare (100). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,300/mo in Fresno and $1,400/mo in Lakewood, the annual rent difference is approximately $1,200.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $6,000.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $26,000.0 difference in median home prices between Fresno and Lakewood 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: Fresno vs Lakewood
Choosing between Fresno and Lakewood 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.
The cost gap between Fresno and Lakewood reflects thousands of individual pricing differences across housing markets, grocery chains, utility providers, and healthcare networks. No two households experience the same effective cost of living even in the same city, which is why the category breakdown matters more than the headline number. Adjust the lifestyle weighting sliders above to see how your spending priorities shift the comparison between these specific metros.