Tacoma vs Fresno: Cost of Living Comparison
How does the cost of living in Tacoma, Washington compare to Fresno, California? Below is a side-by-side breakdown of housing costs, income, wages, and taxes using official government data.
Summary: Fresno is the more affordable city overall. Housing costs are 29% higher in Tacoma compared to Fresno, while rent is 21% higher. WA has no state income tax.
| Metric | Tacoma, WA | Fresno, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| Median Home Value | $415,300 | $321,800 | +29.1% |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,489 | $1,227 | +21.4% |
| Income | |||
| Median Household Income | $79,085 | $63,001 | +25.5% |
| Per Capita Income | $41,788 | $29,293 | +42.7% |
| Taxes | |||
| State Income Tax Rate | None | 13.3% | -100.0% |
| Combined Sales Tax | 9.3% | 8.7% | +7.0% |
| Demographics | |||
| Population | 219,234 | 541,528 | -59.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022), Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. State/local tax rates from Tax Foundation (2024).
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Tacoma
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Fresno
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Key Takeaways
- Housing: The median home in Tacoma costs $415,300 compared to $321,800 in Fresno — a 29% premium.
- Rent: Median rent is $1,489/mo in Tacoma vs $1,227/mo in Fresno.
- Income: Median household income is $79,085 in Tacoma and $63,001 in Fresno.
- Taxes: Washington has no state income tax, while California has a 13.3% rate.
Methodology
This comparison uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2022) for median household income, median home value, median gross rent, per capita income, and population. State and local tax rates are sourced from the Tax Foundation. Mortgage rates are from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (updated weekly).