Livermore, CA vs Monterey, CA

Monterey is moderately more affordable than Livermore, with a 7.9% lower cost of living index. Livermore scores 206 compared to 191 for Monterey, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Livermore can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Livermore is $2,640/month compared to $2,288/month in Monterey — a 15% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Monterey is more affordable at $1,003,300 median vs $1,038,600.

Median household income in Livermore is $153,602 compared to $104,110 in Monterey (+47.5%). While Livermore is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Livermore spend roughly 20.6% of their income on rent, less than the 26.4% in Monterey.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (59.9°F vs 57.3°F). Monterey receives more rainfall at 16.2" per year compared to 15.2" in Livermore.