Question 1

Is Arlington or Fresno cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Arlington, TX is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $931/month less than in Fresno, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,723/mo in Arlington versus $1,664/mo in Fresno.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Arlington vs Fresno?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $72,000/year before tax in Arlington, TX and $98,500/year in Fresno, CA — a difference of about $26,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Arlington or Fresno cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Arlington, the same answer as for a single person. A four-person household runs about $7,857/month in Arlington and $9,806/month in Fresno, with rent scaled to household size using each city's own bedroom spread.

Question 4

Should I move to Arlington or Fresno?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Arlington costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Arlington73	Fresno55
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,111	$5,042
Est. monthly cost (household of 4)	$7,857	$9,806
Salary for comfort	$72,000/yr	$98,500/yr
Typical rent	$1,723	$1,664
Median home value	$276,400	$348,500
Median household income	$73,519	$66,804
Unemployment	4.1%	5.5%
Housing score	60	39
Jobs score	58	35
Safety score	65	68
Climate score	96	88
Amenities score	73	49
Population	394.8K	543.6K
Summer high / winter low	94° / 35°	98° / 38°

Arlington, TX vs Fresno, CA