Daly City, CA vs Fontana, CA

The cost of living difference between Daly City, CA and Fontana, CA is dramatic. Fontana is 52.5% cheaper than Daly City, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Daly City has a cost index of 207 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 Daly City is $2,523/month compared to $1,733/month in Fontana — a 46% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fontana is more affordable at $558,500 median vs $1,092,700.

Median household income in Daly City is $119,570 compared to $98,187 in Fontana (+21.8%). Daly City 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 Daly City spend roughly 25.3% of their income on rent, more than the 21.2% in Fontana.