Fontana, CA vs Rialto, CA

Rialto is moderately more affordable than Fontana, with a 9.1% lower cost of living index. Fontana scores 136 compared to 125 for Rialto, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fontana 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 $1,641/month in Rialto — a 6% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Rialto is more affordable at $454,400 median vs $558,500.

Median household income in Fontana is $98,187 compared to $85,521 in Rialto (+14.8%). While Fontana is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fontana spend roughly 21.2% of their income on rent, less than the 23% in Rialto.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (66.8°F vs 66.2°F). Fontana receives more rainfall at 11.6" per year compared to 9.4" in Rialto.