Garden Grove, CA vs Monterey Park, CA

Garden Grove, CA and Monterey Park, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.3% difference in their overall index. Garden Grove scores 163 while Monterey Park scores 163 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 Garden Grove is $1,971/month compared to $1,845/month in Monterey Park — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Monterey Park has cheaper rent, Garden Grove actually has lower median home values ($765,500 vs $818,300).

Median household income in Garden Grove is $90,166 compared to $77,605 in Monterey Park (+16.2%). Garden Grove offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Garden Grove spend roughly 26.2% of their income on rent, less than the 28.5% in Monterey Park.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (66.2°F vs 65.8°F). Monterey Park receives more rainfall at 14.3" per year compared to 11.9" in Garden Grove.