Lemon Grove, CA vs San Fernando, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

San Fernando, CA has a modeled overall cost index 12.6% higher than Lemon Grove, CA.

Lemon Grove, CA · modeled 2BR rent
$2,460 / 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 Lemon Grove, 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,222/month in San Fernando, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $164,670 in San Fernando, CA

Regional cost estimates: Lemon Grove, CA uses Chula Vista, CA. San Fernando, CA uses Los Angeles, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 12.6%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,222
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$14.7K
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.

Lemon Grove, CA

Population:28K
Cost Index:
136.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$738K

San Fernando, CA

Population:23K
Cost Index:
154.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$726K

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Lemon Grove, CA

The Golden State

28K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 28K 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: Lemon Grove, 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.

Housing
↑ 38.8%
Lemon Grove, CA
$3,334
San Fernando, CA
$4,628
Difference
$1,294
more
Transportation
↑ 28.5%
Lemon Grove, CA
$1,114
San Fernando, CA
$1,432
Difference
$318
more
Other
↓ 14.4%
Lemon Grove, CA
$1,341
San Fernando, CA
$1,149
Difference
$193
less
Healthcare
↓ 16.0%
Lemon Grove, CA
$464
San Fernando, CA
$390
Difference
$74.49
less
All Utilities
↓ 14.9%
Lemon Grove, CA
$461
San Fernando, CA
$392
Difference
$68.92
less
Groceries
↓ 6.8%
Lemon Grove, CA
$785
San Fernando, CA
$732
Difference
$53.11
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,880
To$1,700
↓ $180
1 Bed
From$2,020
To$1,900
↓ $120
2 Bed
From$2,460
To$2,370
↓ $90.00
3 Bed
From$3,280
To$3,000
↓ $280
Lemon Grove, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,020–$2,020/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 Lemon Grove, CA
$8,722
Monthly in San Fernando, CA
$1,222
Difference

Home Values

Lemon Grove
San Fernando
$738K
Median Value
$726K
↓ -2.2%
YoY Change
↓ -0.7%
↑ +33.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +30.7%

Homes in San Fernando are 2% less expensive than Lemon Grove

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

Lemon Grove, 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

Lemon Grove, 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

Lemon Grove
San Fernando
71 Moderate
Air Quality
80 Moderate
12.8%
Good Air Days
10.4%
100 Very High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🔥🌊🌡
Top Hazards
🔥🌊🌅
▲+2.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.6°F
1 days
Heat Days >95°F
17 days
▲+2.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.6°F
1 days
Heat Days >95°F
17 days

Before moving from Lemon Grove, CA to San Fernando, 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 San Fernando, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Lemon Grove, 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 Lemon Grove 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: Lemon Grove, CA vs San Fernando, CA

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

San Fernando, CA has a modeled overall cost index 12.6% higher than Lemon Grove, 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 Lemon Grove, CA, the model estimates $164,670 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 Lemon Grove, CA and San Fernando, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,460/month in Lemon Grove, 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.

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