Rents are 9% below what Fresno's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,945 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
February. Asking rents in Fresno usually run 0.5% below trend in February and 0.6% above it in June, about $21 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Fresno is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Fresno changed +4.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Fresno rose 47.8% while median household income rose 40.8% ($50,432 to $70,991). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Fresno is 52.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 14 months in a row, and rose in 12 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($70,991) is $1,775 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,576); a 3-bedroom is $2,209.
The priciest of 14 ZIP codes in Fresno, 93730 ($2,652/mo), costs 2.2 times the cheapest, 93701 ($1,203/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Fresno. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Fresno, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, 25.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Fresno, CA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Fresno, CA has shifted from $1,457 to $1,945, up 33.5% since 2021. On the earnings side, the typical household in Fresno, CA now reports about $70,991, up from $57,211 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Fresno, CA adding about 7,292 residents over the five-year window, up 1.4% on net. The renter share has eased from 52.4% to 49.9%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Fresno, CA reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Fresno on your salary?
At $1,945/mo, how Fresno rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Fresno rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Fresno. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Fresno
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Fresno is $1,945/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,267/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,576/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,274/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,209/mo.
At 33% of local median household income ($70,991/yr), Fresno ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Fresno rent compare to other cities in California?
At $1,945/mo, rent takes ~33% of Fresno's median household income ($70,991/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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