CostIndexUSA

Huntington Beach, CA vs San Bernardino, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Huntington Beach
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent
More AffordableCA
San Bernardino
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent

San Bernardino is moderately cheaper than Huntington Beach — 6.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Huntington Beach, you would need $74,900 in San Bernardino. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing24.1%
Huntington Beach
170.4
San Bernardino
129.3
🛒 Groceries4.9%
Huntington Beach
106.6
San Bernardino
101.4
🚗 Transportation3.0%
Huntington Beach
109.6
San Bernardino
106.3
🏥 Healthcare2.9%
Huntington Beach
99.1
San Bernardino
96.2
Utilities6.3%
Huntington Beach
158.6
San Bernardino
148.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Huntington Beach to see what you'd need to earn in San Bernardino to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in San Bernardino, CA
$74,900
$5,100 less needed in San Bernardino

Formula: salary × (106.4 ÷ 113.6) = salary × 0.9366. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Huntington Beach, CA

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

San Bernardino, CA

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

Huntington Beach has 24.1% lower housing costs compared to San Bernardino.

Income & Job Market

Huntington Beach, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
199,223
Top Industries
TourismTechnologyHealthcareRetailFinance

San Bernardino, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
222,101
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsGovernmentRetailManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

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

Huntington Beach, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

San Bernardino, 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.