Can You Afford To Live In Fresno, CA Without A Roommate?

Whether you’re just starting out or established in your career, many people find Fresno (and most of California!) to be incredibly expensive.  Can you afford to live in Fresno, CA without a roommate?  We’ve compiled a few simple facts to help you decide.

In this inland city of 509,000, you’ll want to be careful about the apartment you choose and whether or not you decide to live with a roommate.  This could be a choice you’re living with for a very long time, or a very short time if you don’t make the choice carefully – and we all know that moving is a pain.  Also make sure you protect your new apartment with Fresno Renters Insurance – ideally, if you have a roommate, you each should have a policy.  Why? See “Can roommates share renters insurance?”

Rent Control In Fresno

Well, you’re out of luck if you’re counting on this one, unfortunately.  Fresno does not appear to have a rent control ordinance, except with regards to mobile home parks.  So as long as you’re renting an apartment and not a mobile home, the standard provisions apply.  Generally, with minimal notice, at lease renewal or without a lease, your rent can be increased to whatever the landlord thinks someone will pay for the apartment.

That doesn’t mean you can’t afford to live in Fresno, CA without a roommate, but it does mean you need to be careful about the neighborhood you choose – up and coming areas are more likely to have significant increases over the next twelve to twenty-four months, so you might want to stick to already established neighborhoods that aren’t currently in the process of being “revitalized.”

Average Rent In Fresno

An average one bedroom apartment in Fresno that’s in a convenient location might go for $920 a month.  Somewhat farther out, you could pay as little as $756 a month.  Those numbers really aren’t bad at all for Southern California, to be honest, but there’s one important factor to consider.  While Fresno has jobs and a great economy, it doesn’t have proximity to many other large cities.  You’re not going to be commuting into LA or San Francisco from Fresno, more than likely, it just wouldn’t be worth the trip.  So the cost of an apartment in real terms within your budget is relative to the sort of work you do and whether you can reasonably do it in or near the city.

Average Additional Costs Of Renting An Apartment In Fresno

Many things are not included in your rent and should be considered when you’re deciding whether you can live in Fresno without a roommate.  For a 900 square foot apartment, you can expect to pay about $120 a month in electric.  You can expect to pay at least fifty bucks a month for internet.  Factor in water, gas, wireless service (at least seventy-five dollars a month realistically), a car payment, car insurance, food, incidentals, and Fresno Renters Insurance, and you’re looking at a much larger number.

You could technically double the rent and figure that $1,800-$2,000 is enough to live without a roommate, but people who spend fifty percent of their gross income on housing are almost always stretched to the breaking point.  What you’re supposed to spend on total housing costs inclusive of utilities is approximately a third of your monthly income.  That’s not always possible, but that’s been the suggested comfort zone for many years.

You be the judge – can you afford to live in Fresno without a roommate?

To find out more about how you can protect your new apartment – with or without a roommate – just call (800)892-4308 or click to get covered - whether you need Fresno renters insurance quotes online or coverage anywhere else!

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Photo Credit: Tony Scarfone CC2