Home / Compare / San Juan Capistrano vs Tehachapi

San Juan Capistrano, CA vs Tehachapi, CA

192
San Juan Capistrano
California
VS
+86.9%
103
Tehachapi
California

The cost of living difference between San Juan Capistrano, CA and Tehachapi, CA is dramatic. Tehachapi is 86.9% cheaper than San Juan Capistrano, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. San Juan Capistrano has a cost index of 192 while Tehachapi sits at 103, 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 San Juan Capistrano is $2,500/month compared to $1,278/month in Tehachapi — a 96% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Tehachapi is more affordable at $344,700 median vs $929,700.

Median household income in San Juan Capistrano is $127,893 compared to $67,785 in Tehachapi (+88.7%). While San Juan Capistrano is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of San Juan Capistrano spend roughly 23.5% of their income on rent, more than the 22.6% in Tehachapi.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (64.9°F vs 62.1°F). San Juan Capistrano receives more rainfall at 11.2" per year compared to 6.8" in Tehachapi.

Income & Cost

Cost of Living Index
San Juan Capistrano
192
Tehachapi
103
46% cheaper
Median Household Income
San Juan Capistrano
$127,893
47% higher
Tehachapi
$67,785

Housing

Median Rent
San Juan Capistrano
$2,500
Tehachapi
$1,278
49% cheaper
Median Home Value
San Juan Capistrano
$929,700
Tehachapi
$344,700
63% cheaper
Population
San Juan Capistrano
34,998
Tehachapi
12,366

Salary Equivalency Calculator

What does your salary in one city buy you in the other?

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Rent by Bedroom Size

HUD Fair Market Rent (FY 2026) — metro area average

Studio
San Juan Capistrano $2,031
Tehachapi $1,440
29% cheaper
1 Bed
San Juan Capistrano $2,272
Tehachapi $1,630
28% cheaper
2 Bed
San Juan Capistrano $2,835
Tehachapi $2,070
27% cheaper
3 Bed
San Juan Capistrano $3,599
Tehachapi $2,650
26% cheaper
4 Bed
San Juan Capistrano $4,010
Tehachapi $2,920
27% cheaper

Everyday Prices

BLS Average Prices by metro area

Gasoline (regular)
San Juan Capistrano $3.28
Tehachapi $3.22
US $3.07
🥚
Eggs (grade A, large)
San Juan Capistrano $2.68
Tehachapi $2.62
US $2.50
🥛
Milk (whole)
San Juan Capistrano $4.31
Tehachapi $4.22
US $4.03
🍞
Bread (white)
San Juan Capistrano $1.98
Tehachapi $1.94
US $1.85
🍗
Chicken breast
San Juan Capistrano $4.44
Tehachapi $4.35
US $4.14
Electricity
San Juan Capistrano $0.27
Tehachapi $0.28
US $0.19

Climate

NOAA 30-year normals (1991-2020)

Avg Temp
San Juan Capistrano 64.9°F
Tehachapi 62.1°F
Summer High
San Juan Capistrano 79°F
Tehachapi 98°F
Winter Low
San Juan Capistrano 49°F
Tehachapi 31°F
Rainfall
San Juan Capistrano 11.2"
Tehachapi 6.8"
Rainy Days
San Juan Capistrano 41d
Tehachapi 28d