CostIndexUSA

Ontario, CA vs San Jose, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableCA
Ontario
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent
CA
San Jose
110.4
overall index
$3,400/mo rent

Ontario is slightly cheaper than San Jose — 3.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Ontario, you would need $83,000 in San Jose. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+63.9%
Ontario
129.3
San Jose
211.9
🛒 Groceries+3.7%
Ontario
101.4
San Jose
105.2
🚗 Transportation0.9%
Ontario
106.3
San Jose
105.3
🏥 Healthcare0.9%
Ontario
96.2
San Jose
95.3
Utilities+5.5%
Ontario
148.6
San Jose
156.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Jose, CA
$83,000
$3,000 more needed in San Jose

Formula: salary × (110.4 ÷ 106.4) = salary × 1.0376. 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×

San Jose, CA

Median Home Price
$1,569,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,400
Housing Index
211.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
38.5×

San Jose has 63.9% 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

San Jose, CA

Median Household Income
$153,200
Per Capita Income
$87,300
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
1,013,240
Top Industries
TechnologySemiconductorsSoftwareHealthcareFinance

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)

San Jose, CA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.