Cost of Living: Santa Ana, CA vs Garland, TX (2026)

Santa Ana

California
163
VS

Garland

Texas
96

Santa Ana is 70% more expensive than Garland.

$1,975/mo ↑ 30%
Median Rent
$1,525/mo ↓ 23%
$88,354/yr ↑ 18%
Median Income
$74,717/yr ↓ 15%
$657,800 ↑ 164%
Home Value
$248,900 ↓ 62%
$1,965/mo ↑ 36%
Owner Costs
$1,445/mo ↓ 26%
311,639
Population
245,298

Tax Comparison

13.3%
Income Tax
0%
7.25%
State Sales Tax
6.25%
0.71%
Property Tax
1.6%

Affordability

26.8%
rent-to-income
Affordability
24.5%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing Santa Ana, CA and Garland, TX, the overall cost of living indices are 163 and 96 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $450/month cheaper in Garland, saving renters about $5,400/year.

Median household income is $13,637/year higher in Santa Ana. Home values also differ significantly — the median in Santa Ana is $657,800 compared to $248,900 in Garland.

Texas has no state income tax, giving Garland residents a significant tax advantage over California's 13.3% rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Ana vs Garland — common questions

Is Santa Ana or Garland cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, Garland is cheaper to live in with an index of 96 compared to 163 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between Santa Ana and Garland?
Median rent in Santa Ana is $1,975/month and in Garland it's $1,525/month — a difference of $450/month.
Which city has higher income, Santa Ana or Garland?
Median household income is $88,354 in Santa Ana and $74,717 in Garland. Median household income is $13,637/year higher in Santa Ana.
How do taxes compare between California and Texas?
California has 13.3% income tax, 7.25% sales tax, and 0.71% property tax. Texas has 0% income tax, 6.25% sales tax, and 1.6% property tax.
Should I move to Santa Ana or Garland?
It depends on your priorities. Santa Ana has a cost index of 163 with median rent of $1,975/mo, while Garland has a cost index of 96 with rent of $1,525/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View Santa Ana details → View Garland details →

More Comparisons

Other cost of living comparisons for Santa Ana and Garland

Santa Ana vs. Orlando Santa Ana vs. Cincinnati Santa Ana vs. Riverside Santa Ana vs. Irvine Santa Ana vs. Corpus Christi Santa Ana vs. St. Paul Garland vs. Glendale Garland vs. Scottsdale Garland vs. Winston-Salem Garland vs. Boise Garland vs. Chesapeake Garland vs. Arlington