Fontana, CA vs Murrieta, CA

Fontana is moderately more affordable than Murrieta, with a 14% lower cost of living index. Fontana scores 136 compared to 158 for Murrieta, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Murrieta can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fontana is $1,733/month compared to $2,330/month in Murrieta — a 26% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fontana is more affordable at $558,500 median vs $606,900.

Median household income in Fontana is $98,187 compared to $109,780 in Murrieta (-10.6%). The higher salaries in Murrieta partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Fontana spend roughly 21.2% of their income on rent, less than the 25.5% in Murrieta.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (66.8°F vs 65.1°F). Murrieta receives more rainfall at 15.3" per year compared to 11.6" in Fontana.