Dana Point, CA vs Rancho Mission Viejo, CA

Dana Point, CA and Rancho Mission Viejo, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.3% difference in their overall index. Dana Point scores 226 while Rancho Mission Viejo scores 227 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 Dana Point is $2,883/month compared to $3,342/month in Rancho Mission Viejo — a 14% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Dana Point has cheaper rent, Rancho Mission Viejo actually has lower median home values ($1,039,300 vs $1,200,900).

Median household income in Dana Point is $127,246 compared to $181,111 in Rancho Mission Viejo (-29.7%). While Rancho Mission Viejo is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Dana Point spend roughly 27.2% of their income on rent, more than the 22.1% in Rancho Mission Viejo.