City comparison
Eugene, OR vs Fresno, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Eugene, OR (101.6) and Fresno, CA (102.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Eugene, OR goes as far as $100,600 in Fresno, CA.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,355 a month in Fresno, CA versus $1,286 in Eugene, OR. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Fresno, CA and 22% in Eugene, OR.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,850 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in Fresno, CA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.5% moving from Eugene, OR to Fresno, CA ($106,437 → $106,973), while prices change by +0.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.1% in real buying power.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (about average)
- Fresno, CA: price level 102.2 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Eugene, OR | Fresno, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 102.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,581 in Fresno | $99,422 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $1,355/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $46,910 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and Fresno, CA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and Fresno, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | Fresno |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 95.7 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 161.0 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 102.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → Fresno, CA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.6%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$2,850/yr.
67 Fair offer
Fresno, CA → Eugene, OR
Roughly even
Buying power +0.6%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$2,850/yr.
71 Strong offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Eugene, OR is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Fresno, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Eugene, OR to Fresno, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | Fresno, CA | Real change, Eugene → Fresno |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,033 | −0.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,055 | −0.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,959 | −0.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,973 | −0.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,410 | −0.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | Fresno, CA | Fresno pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $107,050 | $118,420 | $117,736 (+10.0%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $129,060 | $128,315 (+6.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $78,690 | $78,236 (−2.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $125,420 | $124,696 (+9.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.