Studio Rent · July 2026

Studio Apartment Rent in Fresno, CA

$1,267/mo

Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Fresno, California as of July 2026. That's +35% lower than the citywide median of $1,954 and +2% below the national studio median of $1,290.

Studio median
$1,267
July 2026
vs city overall
-35%
$1,954 city median
vs national
-2%
$1,290 US median
California rank
#41
of 383 cities

Income needed for a studio in Fresno

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.

Annual income
$50,680
Monthly gross
$4,223
Hourly (full-time)
$24.37

Rent by apartment size in Fresno

Compare Fresno's median rent across every apartment size.

Studio (current)
$1,267
1-Bedroom
$1,274
2-Bedroom
$1,576
3-Bedroom
$2,209
4+ Bedroom
$2,531

Cheapest cities for a studio in California

#CityStudio rent
1Florin$738
2Ridgecrest$838
3Taft$870
4Lakeport$890
5El Centro$910
6Barstow$920
7Red Bluff$930
8California City$940
9Clearlake$950
10Paradise$970
11Eureka$980
12Oroville$985
13Florence-Graham$1,029
14Porterville$1,050
15Anderson$1,060

Most expensive cities for a studio in California

#CityStudio rent
1Santa Cruz$3,520
2Scotts Valley$3,420
3Aptos$3,420
4Cupertino$3,410
5Coronado$3,190
6Ladera Ranch$3,140
7Los Altos$3,130
8Foster City$3,130
9Newport Beach$3,102
10Capitola$3,100
11Coto de Caza$3,070
12Sunnyvale$3,010
13Santa Barbara$3,000
14Irvine$3,000
15Solana Beach$2,970

Nearby cities — studio rent

Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Fresno.

CityDistanceStudio rentvs Fresno
Clovis, CA9.3 mi$1,640+$373 (+29%)
Madera, CA20.5 mi$1,260$-7 (-1%)
Lemoore, CA34.5 mi$1,390+$123 (+10%)
Hanford, CA36 mi$1,120$-147 (-12%)
Visalia, CA43.6 mi$1,183$-84 (-7%)
Tulare, CA50.8 mi$1,130$-137 (-11%)
Merced, CA60.4 mi$1,090$-177 (-14%)
Exeter, CA62.2 mi$1,140$-127 (-10%)
Atwater, CA70.6 mi$1,070$-197 (-16%)
Los Banos, CA75.9 mi$1,250$-17 (-1%)
Porterville, CA84.2 mi$1,050$-217 (-17%)
Turlock, CA89.5 mi$1,145$-122 (-10%)

Studio rent in Fresno — common questions

How much is a studio apartment in Fresno?

As of July 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Fresno, California is $1,267 per month. This is +35% below the citywide median of $1,954.

What income do you need to afford a studio in Fresno?

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $50,680 ($4,223/month gross), which works out to roughly $24.37/hour at a full-time job.

Is Fresno expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?

Fresno's studio median of $1,267 is +2% below the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 48th percentile of US cities tracked.

How does Fresno rank for studio rent in California?

Among the 383 cities in California with studio data, Fresno ranks #41 from cheapest to most expensive.

Are there cheaper studio options near Fresno?

Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Madera ($1,260), Hanford ($1,120), Visalia ($1,183).

All rent data
Fresno rent overview →
Trend
Fresno rent history →
Calculator
Fresno affordability →
Methodology: Bedroom-level rent medians come from HUD Fair Market Rent data calibrated to the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) for Fresno, which serves as the citywide anchor. When the HUD bedroom values exceed the ZORI city median (a common quirk in luxury markets and small samples), bedroom values are proportionally scaled down to align. Income required uses the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline. Comparison rankings use the same data month across all cities (July 2026) and exclude cities with median rent below $400 or above $20,000.