Lathrop, CA vs Sierra Madre, CA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Lathrop is 20.3% cheaper than Sierra Madre. With a cost index of 159 vs 200, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Lathrop to Sierra Madre should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Lathrop is $2,367/month compared to $2,086/month in Sierra Madre — a 14% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Sierra Madre has cheaper rent, Lathrop actually has lower median home values ($605,000 vs $1,172,200).

Median household income in Lathrop is $118,605 compared to $141,094 in Sierra Madre (-15.9%). The higher salaries in Sierra Madre partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Lathrop spend roughly 23.9% of their income on rent, more than the 17.7% in Sierra Madre.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (63°F vs 65.8°F). Sierra Madre receives more rainfall at 14.3" per year compared to 13.5" in Lathrop.