Los Altos Hills, CA vs San Fernando, CA

The cost of living difference between Los Altos Hills, CA and San Fernando, CA is dramatic. San Fernando is 116.4% cheaper than Los Altos Hills, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Los Altos Hills has a cost index of 310 while San Fernando sits at 143, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Los Altos Hills is $3,501/month compared to $1,690/month in San Fernando — a 107% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: San Fernando is more affordable at $630,700 median vs $2,000,001.

Median household income in Los Altos Hills is $250,001 compared to $79,694 in San Fernando (+213.7%). While Los Altos Hills is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Los Altos Hills spend roughly 16.8% of their income on rent, less than the 25.4% in San Fernando.

Climate-wise, San Fernando is notably warmer with an average of 66.6°F compared to 59.9°F in Los Altos Hills. Los Altos Hills receives more rainfall at 13.5" per year compared to 13.4" in San Fernando.