CostIndexUSA

Abilene, TX vs Fontana, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Abilene
90.4
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
CA
Fontana
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent

Abilene is significantly cheaper than Fontana — 17.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Abilene, you would need $94,200 in Fontana. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+75.2%
Abilene
73.8
Fontana
129.3
🛒 Groceries+8.1%
Abilene
93.8
Fontana
101.4
🚗 Transportation+5.1%
Abilene
101.1
Fontana
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+5.3%
Abilene
91.4
Fontana
96.2
Utilities+83.0%
Abilene
81.2
Fontana
148.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Abilene to see what you'd need to earn in Fontana to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Fontana, CA
$94,200
$14,200 more needed in Fontana

Formula: salary × (106.4 ÷ 90.4) = salary × 1.1770. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Abilene, TX

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
73.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
9.4×

Fontana, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Fontana has 75.2% higher housing costs compared to Abilene.

Income & Job Market

Abilene, TX

Median Household Income
$61,300
Per Capita Income
$34,900
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
124,451
Top Industries
HealthcareMilitaryEducationRetailManufacturing

Fontana, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
214,547
Top Industries
ManufacturingLogisticsHealthcareRetailConstruction

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Abilene, TX
2.9×income-to-rent ratio

65% of income left after rent (median)

Fontana, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.