Cerritos, CA vs Santa Clara, CA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Cerritos is 20.6% cheaper than Santa Clara. With a cost index of 203 vs 255, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Cerritos to Santa Clara should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Cerritos is $2,909/month compared to $2,985/month in Santa Clara — a 3% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Cerritos is more affordable at $908,600 median vs $1,527,900.

Median household income in Cerritos is $133,953 compared to $173,670 in Santa Clara (-22.9%). While Santa Clara is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Cerritos spend roughly 26.1% of their income on rent, more than the 20.6% in Santa Clara.