Fresno vs Sugar Land
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Fresno
Sugar Land
💡 The Verdict
Sugar Land is 8% cheaper than Fresno overall. A $75,000 salary in Fresno is equivalent to $68,692 in Sugar Land.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Fresno (left) vs Sugar Land (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Fresno versus Sugar Land. Differences shown from Fresno perspective.
| Item | Fresno | Sugar Land | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $930/mo | $1,090/mo | $-160.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,300/mo | $1,450/mo | $-150.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,660/mo | $1,880/mo | $-220.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.80 | $3.01 | $-0.21 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.98 | $3.50 | +$0.48 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.27 | $3.02 | +$0.25 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.81 | $5.21 | +$0.60 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.34 | $3.25 | +$0.09 |
| Restaurant Meal | $14.87 | $17.27 | $-2.40 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Fresno has the same purchasing power as $68,692 in Sugar Land.
Conversely, $75,000 in Sugar Land equals $81,888 in Fresno.
💼 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. California details → · Texas details →
Reading These Numbers: Fresno (107) vs Sugar Land (98)
Fresno at 107 is 7% above the US average, while Sugar Land at 98 is 2% below 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 $1,450/mo in Sugar Land, the annual rent difference is approximately $1,800.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $9,000.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $7,000.0 difference in median home prices between Fresno and Sugar Land 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.
🔗 Related Tools
📚 Moving & Relocation Resources
Amazon affiliate links
CITY PROFILES
Making Your Decision: Fresno vs Sugar Land
Choosing between Fresno and Sugar Land 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 Fresno against Sugar Land, 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.