Cost of Living: Santa Clarita, CA vs Fullerton, CA (2026)

Santa Clarita

California
197
VS

Fullerton

California
195

Santa Clarita and Fullerton have a similar cost of living.

$2,486/mo ↑ 17%
Median Rent
$2,124/mo ↓ 15%
$119,926/yr ↑ 15%
Median Income
$104,219/yr ↓ 13%
$721,000 ↓ 16%
Home Value
$859,600 ↑ 19%
$2,649/mo ↑ 18%
Owner Costs
$2,251/mo ↓ 15%
229,021
Population
141,278

Tax Comparison

13.3%
Income Tax
13.3%
7.25%
State Sales Tax
7.25%
0.71%
Property Tax
0.71%

Affordability

24.9%
rent-to-income
Affordability
24.5%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing Santa Clarita, CA and Fullerton, CA, the overall cost of living indices are 197 and 195 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $362/month cheaper in Fullerton, saving renters about $4,344/year.

Median household income is $15,707/year higher in Santa Clarita. Home values also differ significantly — the median in Santa Clarita is $721,000 compared to $859,600 in Fullerton.

Both cities share the same state tax structure since they are in California.

Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Clarita vs Fullerton — common questions

Is Santa Clarita or Fullerton cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, Fullerton is cheaper to live in with an index of 195 compared to 197 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between Santa Clarita and Fullerton?
Median rent in Santa Clarita is $2,486/month and in Fullerton it's $2,124/month — a difference of $362/month.
Which city has higher income, Santa Clarita or Fullerton?
Median household income is $119,926 in Santa Clarita and $104,219 in Fullerton. Median household income is $15,707/year higher in Santa Clarita.
How do taxes compare between California and California?
Both cities are in California and share the same state tax rates: 13.3% income tax, 7.25% sales tax, and 0.71% property tax.
Should I move to Santa Clarita or Fullerton?
It depends on your priorities. Santa Clarita has a cost index of 197 with median rent of $2,486/mo, while Fullerton has a cost index of 195 with rent of $2,124/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View Santa Clarita details → View Fullerton details →

More Comparisons

Other cost of living comparisons for Santa Clarita and Fullerton

Santa Clarita vs. Spokane Santa Clarita vs. Fremont Santa Clarita vs. Enterprise Santa Clarita vs. Richmond Santa Clarita vs. Norfolk Santa Clarita vs. Baton Rouge Fullerton vs. Waco Fullerton vs. Metairie Fullerton vs. Visalia Fullerton vs. Orange Fullerton vs. Thornton Fullerton vs. Warren