Median rent is 1% lower in New York ($1,779/mo vs $1,790/mo). Buying is cheaper in El Cajon, where the median home runs $632,800 versus $751,700. Households earn more in New York ($79,713 vs $66,478 a year).
City A
El Cajon, CA
City B
New York, NY
How much would you need to earn in New York, NY to maintain your standard of living from El Cajon, CA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
El Cajon
California
New York
New York
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rents are similar in both cities: $1,790/mo in El Cajon and $1,779/mo in New York. Median home values are within 16% of each other: $632,800 in El Cajon and $751,700 in New York.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% versus 10.90% in New York, so New York is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 7.25% in California and 4.00% in New York; New York has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
El Cajon
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
New York
Income tax: 10.90%
Sales tax: 4.00%
Air quality data is available for New York (avg AQI 61.0) but not yet for El Cajon.
Pick New York if you prioritize higher median household income ($79,713/yr).
Pick New York if you prioritize lower state income tax (10.90%).
Is El Cajon cheaper than New York?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in El Cajon vs New York?
Median rent is $1,790/mo in El Cajon, CA and $1,779/mo in New York, NY. New York, NY has the lower rent by about 1%.
Which has higher salaries — El Cajon or New York?
Median household income is $66,478 in El Cajon, CA and $79,713 in New York, NY. New York, NY has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — El Cajon or New York?
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% and New York's is 10.90%. New York, NY has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in New York to match my El Cajon income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology