Ontario, CA vs Santa Ana, CA

Ontario is moderately more affordable than Santa Ana, with a 7.6% lower cost of living index. Ontario scores 142 compared to 154 for Santa Ana, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Santa Ana can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Ontario is $1,916/month compared to $1,975/month in Santa Ana — a 3% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Ontario is more affordable at $568,000 median vs $657,800.

Median household income in Ontario is $82,806 compared to $88,354 in Santa Ana (-6.3%). The higher salaries in Santa Ana partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Ontario spend roughly 27.8% of their income on rent, more than the 26.8% in Santa Ana.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (66.8°F vs 64.9°F). Ontario receives more rainfall at 11.6" per year compared to 11.2" in Santa Ana.