El Dorado Hills, CA vs Simi Valley, CA

El Dorado Hills, CA and Simi Valley, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.7% difference in their overall index. El Dorado Hills scores 184 while Simi Valley scores 178 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 El Dorado Hills is $2,468/month compared to $2,513/month in Simi Valley — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while El Dorado Hills has cheaper rent, Simi Valley actually has lower median home values ($753,500 vs $870,300).

Median household income in El Dorado Hills is $163,544 compared to $117,703 in Simi Valley (+38.9%). While El Dorado Hills is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of El Dorado Hills spend roughly 18.1% of their income on rent, less than the 25.6% in Simi Valley.

Climate-wise, Simi Valley is notably warmer with an average of 66.6°F compared to 63.4°F in El Dorado Hills. El Dorado Hills receives more rainfall at 19.2" per year compared to 13.4" in Simi Valley.