CostIndexUSA

Ontario, CA vs Salinas, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableCA
Ontario
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent
CA
Salinas
109
overall index
$2,875/mo rent

Ontario is slightly cheaper than Salinas — 2.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Ontario, you would need $82,000 in Salinas. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+12.7%
Ontario
129.3
Salinas
145.7
🛒 Groceries+3.7%
Ontario
101.4
Salinas
105.2
🚗 Transportation0.9%
Ontario
106.3
Salinas
105.3
🏥 Healthcare0.9%
Ontario
96.2
Salinas
95.3
Utilities+3.8%
Ontario
148.6
Salinas
154.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Salinas, CA
$82,000
$2,000 more needed in Salinas

Formula: salary × (109 ÷ 106.4) = salary × 1.0244. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Ontario, CA

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

Salinas, CA

Median Home Price
$826,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,875
Housing Index
145.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.9×

Salinas has 12.7% higher housing costs compared to Ontario.

Income & Job Market

Ontario, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
175,265
Top Industries
LogisticsHealthcareManufacturingRetailFinance

Salinas, CA

Median Household Income
$88,000
Per Capita Income
$50,200
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
163,542
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingGovernmentEducation

Affordability at a Glance

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

Ontario, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% of income left after rent (median)

Salinas, CA
2.6×income-to-rent ratio

61% 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.