Aliso Viejo, CA vs Novato, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Novato, CA has a modeled overall cost index 10.5% lower than Aliso Viejo, CA.

Aliso Viejo, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,920 / month
Novato, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,260 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Aliso Viejo, CA and Novato, CA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Aliso Viejo, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $289/month in Novato, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $146,526 in Novato, CA

Regional cost estimates: Aliso Viejo, CA uses Irvine, CA. Novato, CA uses Oakland, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 10.5%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$289

Savings

Annual Impact

$3.5K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Aliso Viejo, CA

Population:50K

Cost Index:

173.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$968K

Novato, CA

Population:52K

Cost Index:

155.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.03M

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Aliso Viejo, CA

The Golden State

50K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 50K residents.

Novato, CA

The Golden State

52K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 52K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Aliso Viejo, CA vs Novato, CA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Aliso Viejo, CA	Novato, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,957/mo	$3,536/mo	↓ $420less	10.6%
Healthcare	$328/mo	$417/mo	↑ $88.34more	26.9%
Other	$1,006/mo	$1,074/mo	↑ $67.96more	6.8%
All Utilities	$332/mo	$264/mo	↓ $67.48less	20.3%
Groceries	$619/mo	$684/mo	↑ $65.05more	10.5%
Transportation	$1,259/mo	$1,236/mo	↓ $22.94less	1.8%

Housing

↓ 10.6%

Aliso Viejo, CA

$3,957

Novato, CA

$3,536

Difference

$420

less

Healthcare

↑ 26.9%

Aliso Viejo, CA

$328

Novato, CA

$417

Difference

$88.34

Other

↑ 6.8%

Aliso Viejo, CA

$1,006

Novato, CA

$1,074

Difference

$67.96

All Utilities

↓ 20.3%

Aliso Viejo, CA

$332

Novato, CA

$264

Difference

$67.48

less

Groceries

↑ 10.5%

Aliso Viejo, CA

$619

Novato, CA

$684

Difference

$65.05

Transportation

↓ 1.8%

Aliso Viejo, CA

$1,259

Novato, CA

$1,236

Difference

$22.94

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$3,250

To$2,250

↓ $1,000

1 Bed

From$3,330

To$2,690

↓ $640

2 Bed

From$3,920

To$3,260

↓ $660

3 Bed

From$5,320

To$4,160

↓ $1,160

Aliso Viejo, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $3,330–$3,330/mo

Novato, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,510–$2,830/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Aliso Viejo, CA

$7,211

Monthly in Novato, CA

$289

Difference

Home Values

Aliso Viejo

Novato

$968K

Median Value

$1.03M

↓ -1.3%

YoY Change

↓ -2.2%

↑ +51.7%

5-Year Change

↑ +19.7%

$968K

Price Range

$966K - $1.17M

Homes in Novato are 6% more expensive than Aliso Viejo

Calculate payment - Aliso Viejo Calculate payment - Novato

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Aliso Viejo, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Novato, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Aliso Viejo, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Novato, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Aliso Viejo

Novato

54 Moderate

Air Quality

49 Good

32.5%

Good Air Days

53%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+2.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+1.9°F

5 days

Heat Days >95°F

2 days

▲+2.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+1.9°F

5 days

Heat Days >95°F

2 days

Before moving from Aliso Viejo, CA to Novato, CA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Novato, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Aliso Viejo, CA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Aliso Viejo to Novato moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Novato, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Aliso Viejo, CA vs Novato, CA

How do the cost estimates for Aliso Viejo, CA and Novato, CA compare?

Novato, CA has a modeled overall cost index 10.5% lower than Aliso Viejo, CA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Aliso Viejo, CA, the model estimates $146,526 in Novato, CA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Aliso Viejo, CA and Novato, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,920/month in Aliso Viejo, CA and $3,260/month in Novato, CA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.