Clayton, CA vs Fairfax, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Fairfax, CA has a modeled overall cost index 27.0% lower than Clayton, CA.

Clayton, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,620 / month
Fairfax, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,240 / 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 Clayton, CA and Fairfax, 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 Clayton, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,926/month in Fairfax, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $126,886 in Fairfax, CA

Regional cost estimates: Clayton, CA uses Oakland, CA. Fairfax, CA uses Oxnard, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 27.0%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,926

Savings

Annual Impact

$23.1K

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.

Clayton, CA

Population:11K

Cost Index:

151.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1000K

Fairfax, CA

Population:7K

Cost Index:

110.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.15M

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Clayton, CA

The Golden State

11K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 11K residents.

Fairfax, CA

The Golden State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Clayton, CA vs Fairfax, 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	Clayton, CA	Fairfax, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,669/mo	$2,339/mo	↓ $1,331less	36.3%
Transportation	$1,283/mo	$1,058/mo	↓ $225less	17.5%
Other	$1,114/mo	$968/mo	↓ $146less	13.1%
Groceries	$718/mo	$585/mo	↓ $133less	18.6%
Healthcare	$438/mo	$310/mo	↓ $127less	29.1%
All Utilities	$278/mo	$314/mo	↑ $36.02more	13.0%

Housing

↓ 36.3%

Clayton, CA

$3,669

Fairfax, CA

$2,339

Difference

$1,331

less

Transportation

↓ 17.5%

Clayton, CA

$1,283

Fairfax, CA

$1,058

Difference

$225

less

Other

↓ 13.1%

Clayton, CA

$1,114

Fairfax, CA

$968

Difference

$146

less

Groceries

↓ 18.6%

Clayton, CA

$718

Fairfax, CA

$585

Difference

$133

less

Healthcare

↓ 29.1%

Clayton, CA

$438

Fairfax, CA

$310

Difference

$127

less

All Utilities

↑ 13.0%

Clayton, CA

$278

Fairfax, CA

$314

Difference

$36.02

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,610

To$2,230

↓ $380

1 Bed

From$2,970

To$2,680

↓ $290

2 Bed

From$3,620

To$3,240

↓ $380

3 Bed

From$4,630

To$4,140

↓ $490

Clayton, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,970–$2,970/mo

Fairfax, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,680–$2,680/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 Clayton, CA

$5,574

Monthly in Fairfax, CA

$1,926

Difference

Home Values

Clayton

Fairfax

$1000K

Median Value

$1.15M

↓ -3.8%

YoY Change

↓ -0.7%

↑ +16.2%

5-Year Change

↑ +12.2%

Homes in Fairfax are 15% more expensive than Clayton

Calculate payment - Clayton Calculate payment - Fairfax

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

Clayton, 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

Fairfax, 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

Clayton, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Fairfax, 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

Clayton

Fairfax

49 Good

Air Quality

50 Good

53%

Good Air Days

52.2%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

99 High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🫨

▲+1.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.0°F

2 days

Heat Days >95°F

2 days

▲+1.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.0°F

2 days

Heat Days >95°F

2 days

Before moving from Clayton, CA to Fairfax, CA

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Clayton, CA vs Fairfax, CA

How do the cost estimates for Clayton, CA and Fairfax, CA compare?

Fairfax, CA has a modeled overall cost index 27.0% lower than Clayton, 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 Clayton, CA, the model estimates $126,886 in Fairfax, 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 Clayton, CA and Fairfax, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,620/month in Clayton, CA and $3,240/month in Fairfax, 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.