Chino Hills, CA vs Walnut Creek, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Walnut Creek, CA has a modeled overall cost index 6.0% higher than Chino Hills, CA.

Chino Hills, CA · modeled 2BR rent
$3,300 / month
Walnut Creek, CA · modeled 2BR rent
$3,350 / 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 Chino Hills, CA and Walnut Creek, 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

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Estimated extra cost: $636/month in Walnut Creek, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $157,637 in Walnut Creek, CA

Regional cost estimates: Chino Hills, CA uses Santa Ana, CA. Walnut Creek, CA uses Oakland, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 6.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$636
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$7.6K
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.

Chino Hills, CA

Population:77K
Cost Index:
149.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$966K

Walnut Creek, CA

Population:69K
Cost Index:
158.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$1.07M

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Chino Hills, CA

The Golden State

77K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 77K residents.

Walnut Creek, CA

The Golden State

69K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 69K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Chino Hills, CA vs Walnut Creek, 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.

Housing
↑ 13.1%
Chino Hills, CA
$3,534
Walnut Creek, CA
$3,997
Difference
$463
more
Healthcare
↑ 27.4%
Chino Hills, CA
$366
Walnut Creek, CA
$467
Difference
$100
more
Other
↑ 7.6%
Chino Hills, CA
$1,128
Walnut Creek, CA
$1,214
Difference
$85.88
more
Groceries
↑ 11.0%
Chino Hills, CA
$690
Walnut Creek, CA
$766
Difference
$75.66
more
All Utilities
↓ 20.0%
Chino Hills, CA
$370
Walnut Creek, CA
$296
Difference
$74.13
less
Transportation
↓ 1.0%
Chino Hills, CA
$1,412
Walnut Creek, CA
$1,397
Difference
$14.58
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$2,540
To$2,460
↓ $80.00
1 Bed
From$2,660
To$2,740
↑ $80.00
2 Bed
From$3,300
To$3,350
↑ $50.00
3 Bed
From$4,370
To$4,280
↓ $90.00
Chino Hills, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,660–$2,660/mo

Walnut Creek, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,450–$3,180/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 Chino Hills, CA
$8,136
Monthly in Walnut Creek, CA
$636
Difference

Home Values

Chino Hills
Walnut Creek
$966K
Median Value
$1.07M
↑ +0.7%
YoY Change
↓ -2%
↑ +42.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +18.9%
$966K
Price Range
$678K - $1.34M

Homes in Walnut Creek are 11% more expensive than Chino Hills

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
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Chino Hills, 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

Walnut Creek, 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

Chino Hills, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%
Property Tax:0.8%

Walnut Creek, 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

Chino Hills
Walnut Creek
54 Moderate
Air Quality
49 Good
32.5%
Good Air Days
53%
100 Very High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🔥🌊🌅
Top Hazards
🔥🌊🌅
▲+2.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+1.9°F
12 days
Heat Days >95°F
2 days
▲+2.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+1.9°F
12 days
Heat Days >95°F
2 days

Before moving from Chino Hills, CA to Walnut Creek, CA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Walnut Creek, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Chino Hills, CA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Chino Hills to Walnut Creek moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Chino Hills, CA vs Walnut Creek, CA

How do the cost estimates for Chino Hills, CA and Walnut Creek, CA compare?

Walnut Creek, CA has a modeled overall cost index 6.0% higher than Chino Hills, 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 Chino Hills, CA, the model estimates $157,637 in Walnut Creek, 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 Chino Hills, CA and Walnut Creek, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,300/month in Chino Hills, CA and $3,350/month in Walnut Creek, 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.

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