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

Santa Clara

California
307
VS

Lehigh Acres

Florida
95

Santa Clara is 212% more expensive than Lehigh Acres.

$2,985/mo ↑ 100%
Median Rent
$1,496/mo ↓ 50%
$173,670/yr ↑ 179%
Median Income
$62,330/yr ↓ 64%
$1,527,900 ↑ 481%
Home Value
$263,200 ↓ 83%
$3,051/mo ↑ 129%
Owner Costs
$1,330/mo ↓ 56%
129,239
Population
127,391

Tax Comparison

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

Affordability

20.6%
rent-to-income
Affordability
28.8%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing Santa Clara, CA and Lehigh Acres, FL, the overall cost of living indices are 307 and 95 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $1,489/month cheaper in Lehigh Acres, saving renters about $17,868/year.

Median household income is $111,340/year higher in Santa Clara. Home values also differ significantly — the median in Santa Clara is $1,527,900 compared to $263,200 in Lehigh Acres.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Clara vs Lehigh Acres — common questions

Is Santa Clara or Lehigh Acres cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, Lehigh Acres is cheaper to live in with an index of 95 compared to 307 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between Santa Clara and Lehigh Acres?
Median rent in Santa Clara is $2,985/month and in Lehigh Acres it's $1,496/month — a difference of $1,489/month.
Which city has higher income, Santa Clara or Lehigh Acres?
Median household income is $173,670 in Santa Clara and $62,330 in Lehigh Acres. Median household income is $111,340/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 Lehigh Acres?
It depends on your priorities. Santa Clara has a cost index of 307 with median rent of $2,985/mo, while Lehigh Acres has a cost index of 95 with rent of $1,496/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
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