CostIndexUSA

Garden Grove, CA vs Mount Vernon, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Garden Grove
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent
More AffordableWA
Mount Vernon
102.4
overall index
$2,125/mo rent

Mount Vernon is moderately cheaper than Garden Grove — 9.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Garden Grove, you would need $72,100 in Mount Vernon. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing36.5%
Garden Grove
170.4
Mount Vernon
108.2
🛒 Groceries1.5%
Garden Grove
106.6
Mount Vernon
105
🚗 Transportation4.7%
Garden Grove
109.6
Mount Vernon
104.4
🏥 Healthcare4.6%
Garden Grove
99.1
Mount Vernon
94.5
Utilities39.5%
Garden Grove
158.6
Mount Vernon
96

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Garden Grove to see what you'd need to earn in Mount Vernon to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Mount Vernon, WA
$72,100
$7,900 less needed in Mount Vernon

Formula: salary × (102.4 ÷ 113.6) = salary × 0.9014. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Garden Grove, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Mount Vernon, WA

Median Home Price
$567,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,125
Housing Index
108.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.2×

Garden Grove has 36.5% lower housing costs compared to Mount Vernon.

Income & Job Market

Garden Grove, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
171,949
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailTourismTechnology

Mount Vernon, WA

Median Household Income
$91,200
Per Capita Income
$52,000
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
36,727
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailTourism

Affordability at a Glance

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

Garden Grove, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Mount Vernon, WA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.