Bell Gardens, CA vs Santa Paula, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Santa Paula, CA has a modeled overall cost index 9.8% higher than Bell Gardens, CA.

Bell Gardens, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,180 / month
Santa Paula, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,190 / 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 Bell Gardens, CA and Santa Paula, 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 Bell Gardens, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $540/month in Santa Paula, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $156,478 in Santa Paula, CA

Regional cost estimates: Bell Gardens, CA uses Long Beach, CA. Santa Paula, CA uses Oxnard, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 9.8%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$540

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$6.5K

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.

Bell Gardens, CA

Population:37K

Cost Index:

127.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$675K

Santa Paula, CA

Population:32K

Cost Index:

140.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$696K

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Bell Gardens, CA

The Golden State

37K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 37K residents.

Santa Paula, CA

The Golden State

32K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 32K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Bell Gardens, CA vs Santa Paula, 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	Bell Gardens, CA	Santa Paula, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,154/mo	$3,457/mo	↑ $303more	9.6%
Other	$1,230/mo	$1,431/mo	↑ $201more	16.3%
Transportation	$1,540/mo	$1,564/mo	↑ $23.81more	1.5%
Groceries	$763/mo	$768/mo	↑ $5.87more	0.8%
All Utilities	$409/mo	$412/mo	↑ $3.15more	0.8%
Healthcare	$405/mo	$408/mo	↑ $3.12more	0.8%

Housing

↑ 9.6%

Bell Gardens, CA

$3,154

Santa Paula, CA

$3,457

Difference

$303

Other

↑ 16.3%

Bell Gardens, CA

$1,230

Santa Paula, CA

$1,431

Difference

$201

Transportation

↑ 1.5%

Bell Gardens, CA

$1,540

Santa Paula, CA

$1,564

Difference

$23.81

Groceries

↑ 0.8%

Bell Gardens, CA

$763

Santa Paula, CA

$768

Difference

$5.87

All Utilities

↑ 0.8%

Bell Gardens, CA

$409

Santa Paula, CA

$412

Difference

$3.15

Healthcare

↑ 0.8%

Bell Gardens, CA

$405

Santa Paula, CA

$408

Difference

$3.12

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,560

To$1,630

↑ $70.00

1 Bed

From$1,750

To$1,830

↑ $80.00

2 Bed

From$2,180

To$2,190

↑ $10.00

3 Bed

From$2,760

To$2,970

↑ $210

Bell Gardens, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,750–$1,750/mo

Santa Paula, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,830–$1,830/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 Bell Gardens, CA

$8,040

Monthly in Santa Paula, CA

$540

Difference

Home Values

Bell Gardens

Santa Paula

$675K

Median Value

$696K

↓ -0.7%

YoY Change

↓ -1%

↑ +29.7%

5-Year Change

↑ +27.6%

Homes in Santa Paula are 3% more expensive than Bell Gardens

Calculate payment - Bell Gardens Calculate payment - Santa Paula

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

Bell Gardens, 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

Santa Paula, 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

Bell Gardens, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Santa Paula, 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

Bell Gardens

Santa Paula

80 Moderate

Air Quality

50 Good

10.4%

Good Air Days

52.2%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

99 High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🫨

▲+2.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.0°F

5 days

Heat Days >95°F

2 days

▲+2.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.0°F

5 days

Heat Days >95°F

2 days

Before moving from Bell Gardens, CA to Santa Paula, CA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Santa Paula, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Bell Gardens, 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 Bell Gardens to Santa Paula moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Bell Gardens, CA vs Santa Paula, CA

How do the cost estimates for Bell Gardens, CA and Santa Paula, CA compare?

Santa Paula, CA has a modeled overall cost index 9.8% higher than Bell Gardens, 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 Bell Gardens, CA, the model estimates $156,478 in Santa Paula, 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 Bell Gardens, CA and Santa Paula, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,180/month in Bell Gardens, CA and $2,190/month in Santa Paula, 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.