Median rent is 24% lower in Stockton ($1,577/mo vs $2,082/mo). Buying is cheaper in Stockton, where the median home runs $440,900 versus $713,000. Households earn more in Santa Ana ($93,999 vs $79,907 a year).
City A
Santa Ana, CA
City B
Stockton, CA
How much would you need to earn in Stockton, CA to maintain your standard of living from Santa Ana, 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 metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Santa Ana
California
Stockton
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 Stockton — median rent of $1,577/mo versus $2,082/mo in Santa Ana, a 24% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Santa Ana: the median home is $713,000 versus $440,900 in Stockton — 38% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Santa Ana
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Stockton
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Stockton (avg AQI 48.0) but not yet for Santa Ana.
Pick Santa Ana if you prioritize higher median household income ($93,999/yr).
Pick Stockton if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,577/mo median).
Is Santa Ana cheaper than Stockton?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Santa Ana vs Stockton?
Median rent is $2,082/mo in Santa Ana, CA and $1,577/mo in Stockton, CA. Stockton, CA has the lower rent by about 24%.
Which has higher salaries — Santa Ana or Stockton?
Median household income is $93,999 in Santa Ana, CA and $79,907 in Stockton, CA. Santa Ana, CA 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 — Santa Ana or Stockton?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Stockton to match my Santa Ana income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
