Carmel Valley Village, CA vs Diablo Grande, CA

Diablo Grande is moderately more affordable than Carmel Valley Village, with a 8.2% lower cost of living index. Carmel Valley Village scores 202 compared to 186 for Diablo Grande, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Carmel Valley Village can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Carmel Valley Village is $2,223/month compared to $3,501/month in Diablo Grande — a 37% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Carmel Valley Village has cheaper rent, Diablo Grande actually has lower median home values ($530,200 vs $1,155,800).

Median household income in Carmel Valley Village is $164,167 compared to $160,741 in Diablo Grande (+2.1%). Carmel Valley Village does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Carmel Valley Village spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, less than the 26.1% in Diablo Grande.