Cost of Living: Santa Clara, CA vs Brandon, FL (2026)

Santa Clara

California
307
VS

Brandon

Florida
108

Santa Clara is 184% more expensive than Brandon.

$2,985/mo ↑ 77%
Median Rent
$1,691/mo ↓ 43%
$173,670/yr ↑ 125%
Median Income
$77,068/yr ↓ 56%
$1,527,900 ↑ 420%
Home Value
$293,800 ↓ 81%
$3,051/mo ↑ 97%
Owner Costs
$1,546/mo ↓ 49%
129,239
Population
116,365

Tax Comparison

13.3%
Income Tax
0%
7.25%
State Sales Tax
6.0%
0.71%
Property Tax
0.86%

Affordability

20.6%
rent-to-income
Affordability
26.3%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing Santa Clara, CA and Brandon, FL, the overall cost of living indices are 307 and 108 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $1,294/month cheaper in Brandon, saving renters about $15,528/year.

Median household income is $96,602/year higher in Santa Clara. Home values also differ significantly — the median in Santa Clara is $1,527,900 compared to $293,800 in Brandon.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Clara vs Brandon — common questions

Is Santa Clara or Brandon cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, Brandon is cheaper to live in with an index of 108 compared to 307 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between Santa Clara and Brandon?
Median rent in Santa Clara is $2,985/month and in Brandon it's $1,691/month — a difference of $1,294/month.
Which city has higher income, Santa Clara or Brandon?
Median household income is $173,670 in Santa Clara and $77,068 in Brandon. Median household income is $96,602/year higher in Santa Clara.
How do taxes compare between California and Florida?
California has 13.3% income tax, 7.25% sales tax, and 0.71% property tax. Florida has 0% income tax, 6.0% sales tax, and 0.86% property tax.
Should I move to Santa Clara or Brandon?
It depends on your priorities. Santa Clara has a cost index of 307 with median rent of $2,985/mo, while Brandon has a cost index of 108 with rent of $1,691/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View Santa Clara details → View Brandon details →

More Comparisons

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