Carmel Valley Village, CA vs Del Rey Oaks, CA

Carmel Valley Village, CA and Del Rey Oaks, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.4% difference in their overall index. Carmel Valley Village scores 202 while Del Rey Oaks scores 205 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Carmel Valley Village is $2,223/month compared to $3,162/month in Del Rey Oaks — a 30% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Carmel Valley Village has cheaper rent, Del Rey Oaks actually has lower median home values ($844,000 vs $1,155,800).

Median household income in Carmel Valley Village is $164,167 compared to $130,909 in Del Rey Oaks (+25.4%). Carmel Valley Village offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Carmel Valley Village spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, less than the 29% in Del Rey Oaks.