Cerritos, CA vs Thousand Oaks, CA

Cerritos, CA and Thousand Oaks, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.5% difference in their overall index. Cerritos scores 203 while Thousand Oaks scores 196 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 Cerritos is $2,909/month compared to $2,580/month in Thousand Oaks — a 13% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Thousand Oaks has cheaper rent, Cerritos actually has lower median home values ($908,600 vs $951,200).

Median household income in Cerritos is $133,953 compared to $134,367 in Thousand Oaks (-0.3%). Thousand Oaks offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Cerritos spend roughly 26.1% of their income on rent, more than the 23% in Thousand Oaks.