CostIndexUSA

Fresno, CA vs Mount Vernon, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostCA
Fresno
102.2
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
WA
Mount Vernon
102.4
overall index
$2,125/mo rent

Fresno and Mount Vernon have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+13.1%
Fresno
95.7
Mount Vernon
108.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fresno
105.2
Mount Vernon
105
🚗 Transportation0.9%
Fresno
105.3
Mount Vernon
104.4
🏥 Healthcare0.8%
Fresno
95.3
Mount Vernon
94.5
Utilities40.4%
Fresno
161
Mount Vernon
96

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Fresno to see what you'd need to earn in Mount Vernon to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Mount Vernon, WA
$80,200
$200 more needed in Mount Vernon

Formula: salary × (102.4 ÷ 102.2) = salary × 1.0020. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fresno, CA

Median Home Price
$401,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
95.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.1×

Mount Vernon, WA

Median Home Price
$567,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,125
Housing Index
108.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.2×

Mount Vernon has 13.1% higher housing costs compared to Fresno.

Income & Job Market

Fresno, CA

Median Household Income
$71,100
Per Capita Income
$40,500
Unemployment Rate
7.4%
Population
542,107
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareGovernmentEducationManufacturing

Mount Vernon, WA

Median Household Income
$91,200
Per Capita Income
$52,000
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
36,727
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailTourism

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Fresno, CA
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Mount Vernon, WA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.