Hemet, CA vs Apple Valley, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Apple Valley, CA has a modeled overall cost index 7.1% lower than Hemet, CA.

Hemet, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,080 / month
Apple Valley, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,080 / 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 Hemet, CA and Apple Valley, 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 Hemet, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $409/month in Apple Valley, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $145,097 in Apple Valley, CA

Regional cost estimates: Hemet, CA uses Riverside, CA. Apple Valley, CA uses San Bernardino, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 7.1%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$409

Savings

Annual Impact

$4.9K

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.

Hemet, CA

Population:92K

Cost Index:

113.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$444K

Apple Valley, CA

Population:75K

Cost Index:

105.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$426K

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Hemet, CA

The Golden State

92K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 92K residents.

Apple Valley, CA

The Golden State

75K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 75K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Hemet, CA vs Apple Valley, 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	Hemet, CA	Apple Valley, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,569/mo	$2,202/mo	↓ $366less	14.3%
Other	$1,403/mo	$1,343/mo	↓ $59.42less	4.2%
Transportation	$1,756/mo	$1,767/mo	↑ $11.40more	0.6%
Groceries	$858/mo	$861/mo	↑ $2.78more	0.3%
All Utilities	$460/mo	$462/mo	↑ $1.49more	0.3%
Healthcare	$455/mo	$457/mo	↑ $1.48more	0.3%

Housing

↓ 14.3%

Hemet, CA

$2,569

Apple Valley, CA

$2,202

Difference

$366

less

Other

↓ 4.2%

Hemet, CA

$1,403

Apple Valley, CA

$1,343

Difference

$59.42

less

Transportation

↑ 0.6%

Hemet, CA

$1,756

Apple Valley, CA

$1,767

Difference

$11.40

Groceries

↑ 0.3%

Hemet, CA

$858

Apple Valley, CA

$861

Difference

$2.78

All Utilities

↑ 0.3%

Hemet, CA

$460

Apple Valley, CA

$462

Difference

$1.49

Healthcare

↑ 0.3%

Hemet, CA

$455

Apple Valley, CA

$457

Difference

$1.48

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,600

To$1,600

→ $0

1 Bed

From$1,670

To$1,670

→ $0

2 Bed

From$2,080

To$2,080

→ $0

3 Bed

From$2,780

To$2,780

→ $0

Hemet, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,670–$1,750/mo

Apple Valley, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,670–$1,670/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 Hemet, CA

$7,091

Monthly in Apple Valley, CA

$409

Difference

Home Values

Hemet

Apple Valley

$444K

Median Value

$426K

↓ -2.7%

YoY Change

↓ -1.6%

↑ +38.8%

5-Year Change

↑ +34.2%

$376K - $451K

Price Range

$405K - $446K

Homes in Apple Valley are 4% less expensive than Hemet

Calculate payment - Hemet Calculate payment - Apple Valley

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

Hemet, 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

Apple Valley, 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

Hemet, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Apple Valley, 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

Hemet

Apple Valley

87 Moderate

Air Quality

87 Moderate

11.7%

Good Air Days

10.9%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌡

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌡

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

89 days

Heat Days >95°F

100 days

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

89 days

Heat Days >95°F

100 days

Before moving from Hemet, CA to Apple Valley, CA

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Hemet, CA vs Apple Valley, CA

How do the cost estimates for Hemet, CA and Apple Valley, CA compare?

Apple Valley, CA has a modeled overall cost index 7.1% lower than Hemet, 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 Hemet, CA, the model estimates $145,097 in Apple Valley, 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 Hemet, CA and Apple Valley, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,080/month in Hemet, CA and $2,080/month in Apple Valley, 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.