Auburn, CA vs Indian Wells, CA

Auburn is moderately more affordable than Indian Wells, with a 11% lower cost of living index. Auburn scores 134 compared to 151 for Indian Wells, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Indian Wells can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Auburn is $1,432/month compared to $1,029/month in Indian Wells — a 39% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Indian Wells has cheaper rent, Auburn actually has lower median home values ($642,400 vs $1,002,200).

Median household income in Auburn is $77,760 compared to $145,313 in Indian Wells (-46.5%). While Indian Wells is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Auburn spend roughly 22.1% of their income on rent, more than the 8.5% in Indian Wells.