Benicia, CA vs San Fernando, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

San Fernando, CA has a modeled overall cost index 0.6% lower than Benicia, CA.

Benicia, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,530 / month
San Fernando, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,370 / 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 Benicia, CA and San Fernando, 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 Benicia, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $89.32/month in San Fernando, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,928 in San Fernando, CA

Regional cost estimates: Benicia, CA uses Oakland, CA. San Fernando, CA uses Los Angeles, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 0.6%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$89.32

Savings

Annual Impact

$1.1K

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.

Benicia, CA

Population:26K

Cost Index:

154.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$755K

San Fernando, CA

Population:23K

Cost Index:

154.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$726K

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Benicia, CA

The Golden State

26K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 26K residents.

San Fernando, CA

The Golden State

23K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 23K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Benicia, CA vs San Fernando, 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	Benicia, CA	San Fernando, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,677/mo	$3,932/mo	↑ $255more	6.9%
Other	$1,116/mo	$976/mo	↓ $141less	12.6%
Healthcare	$434/mo	$331/mo	↓ $103less	23.7%
Groceries	$712/mo	$622/mo	↓ $90.33less	12.7%
Transportation	$1,285/mo	$1,217/mo	↓ $68.46less	5.3%
All Utilities	$275/mo	$333/mo	↑ $57.91more	21.0%

Housing

↑ 6.9%

Benicia, CA

$3,677

San Fernando, CA

$3,932

Difference

$255

Other

↓ 12.6%

Benicia, CA

$1,116

San Fernando, CA

$976

Difference

$141

less

Healthcare

↓ 23.7%

Benicia, CA

$434

San Fernando, CA

$331

Difference

$103

less

Groceries

↓ 12.7%

Benicia, CA

$712

San Fernando, CA

$622

Difference

$90.33

less

Transportation

↓ 5.3%

Benicia, CA

$1,285

San Fernando, CA

$1,217

Difference

$68.46

less

All Utilities

↑ 21.0%

Benicia, CA

$275

San Fernando, CA

$333

Difference

$57.91

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,800

To$1,700

↓ $100

1 Bed

From$1,980

To$1,900

↓ $80.00

2 Bed

From$2,530

To$2,370

↓ $160

3 Bed

From$3,380

To$3,000

↓ $380

Benicia, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,980–$1,980/mo

San Fernando, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,900–$1,900/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 Benicia, CA

$7,411

Monthly in San Fernando, CA

$89.32

Difference

Home Values

Benicia

San Fernando

$755K

Median Value

$726K

↓ -0.7%

YoY Change

↓ -0.7%

↑ +19.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +30.7%

Homes in San Fernando are 4% less expensive than Benicia

Calculate payment - Benicia Calculate payment - San Fernando

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

Benicia, 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

San Fernando, 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

Benicia, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

San Fernando, 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

Benicia

San Fernando

49 Good

Air Quality

80 Moderate

53%

Good Air Days

10.4%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+1.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

2 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

▲+1.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

2 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

Before moving from Benicia, CA to San Fernando, CA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in San Fernando, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Benicia, 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 Benicia to San Fernando moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Benicia, CA vs San Fernando, CA

How do the cost estimates for Benicia, CA and San Fernando, CA compare?

San Fernando, CA has a modeled overall cost index 0.6% lower than Benicia, 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 Benicia, CA, the model estimates $148,928 in San Fernando, 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 Benicia, CA and San Fernando, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,530/month in Benicia, CA and $2,370/month in San Fernando, 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.