CostIndexUSA

Columbus, GA vs Fontana, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableGA
Columbus
89.3
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
CA
Fontana
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent

Columbus is significantly cheaper than Fontana — 19.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbus, you would need $95,300 in Fontana. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+111.3%
Columbus
61.2
Fontana
129.3
🛒 Groceries+5.3%
Columbus
96.3
Fontana
101.4
🚗 Transportation+2.7%
Columbus
103.5
Fontana
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+2.8%
Columbus
93.6
Fontana
96.2
Utilities+65.7%
Columbus
89.7
Fontana
148.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Fontana, CA
$95,300
$15,300 more needed in Fontana

Formula: salary × (106.4 ÷ 89.3) = salary × 1.1915. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbus, GA

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
61.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Fontana, CA

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

Fontana has 111.3% higher housing costs compared to Columbus.

Income & Job Market

Columbus, GA

Median Household Income
$54,700
Per Capita Income
$31,200
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
206,922
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetail

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).

Columbus, GA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.