Atwater, CA vs Calimesa, CA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Atwater is 22.3% cheaper than Calimesa. With a cost index of 100 vs 128, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Atwater to Calimesa should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Atwater is $1,219/month compared to $1,852/month in Calimesa — a 34% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Atwater is more affordable at $340,600 median vs $423,300.

Median household income in Atwater is $63,945 compared to $90,313 in Calimesa (-29.2%). While Calimesa is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Atwater spend roughly 22.9% of their income on rent, less than the 24.6% in Calimesa.