Boronda, CA vs El Rio, CA

Boronda is moderately more affordable than El Rio, with a 6.2% lower cost of living index. Boronda scores 147 compared to 157 for El Rio, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of El Rio can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Boronda is $1,964/month compared to $2,122/month in El Rio — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Boronda is more affordable at $581,300 median vs $639,600.

Median household income in Boronda is $77,639 compared to $83,233 in El Rio (-6.7%). While El Rio is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Boronda spend roughly 30.4% of their income on rent, less than the 30.6% in El Rio. The Boronda ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.