CostIndexUSA

Fontana, CA vs Houston, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Fontana
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Houston
98.6
overall index
$1,600/mo rent

Houston is moderately cheaper than Fontana — 7.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fontana, you would need $74,100 in Houston. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing19.2%
Fontana
129.3
Houston
104.5
🛒 Groceries0.8%
Fontana
101.4
Houston
100.6
🚗 Transportation5.6%
Fontana
106.3
Houston
100.4
🏥 Healthcare5.6%
Fontana
96.2
Houston
90.8
Utilities35.9%
Fontana
148.6
Houston
95.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Houston, TX
$74,100
$5,900 less needed in Houston

Formula: salary × (98.6 ÷ 106.4) = salary × 0.9267. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fontana, CA

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

Houston, TX

Median Home Price
$302,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Housing Index
104.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.7×

Fontana has 19.2% lower housing costs compared to Houston.

Income & Job Market

Fontana, CA

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

Houston, TX

Median Household Income
$79,500
Per Capita Income
$45,300
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
2,304,580
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareAerospaceManufacturingLogistics

Affordability at a Glance

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

Fontana, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% of income left after rent (median)

Houston, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.