Median rent is 21% lower in San Bernardino ($1,508/mo vs $1,914/mo). Buying is cheaper in San Bernardino, where the median home runs $422,300 versus $584,800. Households earn more in Riverside ($91,045 vs $67,415 a year). Overall, the two cities have a nearly identical cost of living index (107.3).
City A
Riverside, CA
City B
San Bernardino, CA
How much would you need to earn in San Bernardino, CA to maintain your standard of living from Riverside, CA?
Equivalent salary in San Bernardino, CA
$75,000
Costs are about the same in both cities.
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
Riverside
California
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
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in San Bernardino — median rent of $1,508/mo versus $1,914/mo in Riverside, a 21% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Riverside: the median home is $584,800 versus $422,300 in San Bernardino — 28% more expensive.
Metric
Riverside
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.
Riverside
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
San Bernardino
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
San Bernardino has cleaner air on average: 57.0 AQI (Moderate) compared to 65.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Riverside if you prioritize higher median household income ($91,045/yr).
Pick San Bernardino if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,508/mo median).
Pick San Bernardino if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 57.0).
Riverside is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 107.3 versus 107.3 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Riverside.
Median rent is $1,914/mo in Riverside, CA and $1,508/mo in San Bernardino, CA. San Bernardino, CA has the lower rent by about 21%.
Median household income is $91,045 in Riverside, CA and $67,415 in San Bernardino, CA. Riverside, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
San Bernardino, CA has better air quality on average: 57.0 AQI versus 65.0 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 Riverside, CA is equivalent to roughly $100,000 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
