Albany, CA vs Fountain Valley, CA

Fountain Valley is moderately more affordable than Albany, with a 5.7% lower cost of living index. Albany scores 211 compared to 200 for Fountain Valley, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Albany can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Albany is $2,389/month compared to $2,507/month in Fountain Valley — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Albany has cheaper rent, Fountain Valley actually has lower median home values ($1,018,600 vs $1,188,600).

Median household income in Albany is $135,927 compared to $111,797 in Fountain Valley (+21.6%). While Albany is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Albany spend roughly 21.1% of their income on rent, less than the 26.9% in Fountain Valley.