Median rent is 17% lower in San Bernardino ($1,508/mo vs $1,821/mo). Buying is cheaper in San Bernardino, where the median home runs $422,300 versus $777,600. Households earn more in New York ($80,483 vs $67,415 a year). Taken together, San Bernardino is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 107.3 against 112.6 — about 5% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in New York, NY.
Cost of living verdict
San Bernardino is 5% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 107.3 in San Bernardino vs 112.6 in New York (US national average = 100)
City A
New York, NY
City B
San Bernardino, CA
How much would you need to earn in San Bernardino, CA to maintain your standard of living from New York, NY?
Equivalent salary in San Bernardino, CA
$71,469
You could earn $3,531 less (5% lower) and break even.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
New York
New York
San Bernardino
California
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: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in San Bernardino at $1,508/mo compared to $1,821/mo in New York (17% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in New York: the median home is $777,600 versus $422,300 in San Bernardino — 46% more expensive.
Metric
New York
San Bernardino
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
New York
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
San Bernardino
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
New York has cleaner air on average: 46.0 AQI (Good) compared to 57.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick San Bernardino if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 107.3 vs 112.6).
Pick New York if you prioritize higher median household income ($80,483/yr).
Pick San Bernardino if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,508/mo median).
Pick New York if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 46.0).
San Bernardino is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 107.3 versus 112.6 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 5% lower in San Bernardino.
Median rent is $1,821/mo in New York, NY and $1,508/mo in San Bernardino, CA. San Bernardino, CA has the lower rent by about 17%.
Median household income is $80,483 in New York, NY and $67,415 in San Bernardino, CA. New York, NY has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
New York, NY has better air quality on average: 46.0 AQI versus 57.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in New York, NY is equivalent to roughly $95,291 in San Bernardino, CA (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
