Costa Mesa, CA vs Fontana, CA

The cost of living difference between Costa Mesa, CA and Fontana, CA is dramatic. Fontana is 46.6% cheaper than Costa Mesa, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Costa Mesa has a cost index of 199 while Fontana sits at 136, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Costa Mesa is $2,395/month compared to $1,733/month in Fontana — a 38% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fontana is more affordable at $558,500 median vs $1,054,700.

Median household income in Costa Mesa is $110,073 compared to $98,187 in Fontana (+12.1%). Costa Mesa 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 Costa Mesa spend roughly 26.1% of their income on rent, more than the 21.2% in Fontana.