Pleasant Hill, CA vs Scotts Valley, CA

Pleasant Hill, CA and Scotts Valley, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1% difference in their overall index. Pleasant Hill scores 203 while Scotts Valley scores 201 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 Pleasant Hill is $2,511/month compared to $2,362/month in Scotts Valley — a 6% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Scotts Valley has cheaper rent, Pleasant Hill actually has lower median home values ($1,040,600 vs $1,092,000).

Median household income in Pleasant Hill is $144,513 compared to $140,887 in Scotts Valley (+2.6%). While Pleasant Hill is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Pleasant Hill spend roughly 20.9% of their income on rent, more than the 20.1% in Scotts Valley.

Climate-wise, Pleasant Hill is notably warmer with an average of 62°F compared to 57.2°F in Scotts Valley. Scotts Valley receives more rainfall at 22.4" per year compared to 16.1" in Pleasant Hill.