Alhambra, CA vs Santa Clarita, CA

Alhambra is moderately more affordable than Santa Clarita, with a 6.7% lower cost of living index. Alhambra scores 163 compared to 175 for Santa Clarita, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Santa Clarita can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Alhambra is $1,852/month compared to $2,486/month in Santa Clarita — a 26% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Alhambra has cheaper rent, Santa Clarita actually has lower median home values ($721,000 vs $812,700).

Median household income in Alhambra is $85,189 compared to $119,926 in Santa Clarita (-29%). While Santa Clarita is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Alhambra spend roughly 26.1% of their income on rent, more than the 24.9% in Santa Clarita.