Milpitas, CA vs Fountain Valley, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Fountain Valley, CA has a modeled overall cost index 11.7% lower than Milpitas, CA.

Milpitas, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,790 / month
Fountain Valley, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,440 / 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 Milpitas, CA and Fountain 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 Milpitas, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $676/month in Fountain Valley, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $141,883 in Fountain Valley, CA

Regional cost estimates: Milpitas, CA uses Fremont, CA. Fountain Valley, CA uses Santa Ana, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 11.7%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$676

Savings

Annual Impact

$8.1K

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.

Milpitas, CA

Population:77K

Cost Index:

167.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.44M

Fountain Valley, CA

Population:55K

Cost Index:

148.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.33M

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Milpitas, CA

The Golden State

77K

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Fountain Valley, CA

The Golden State

55K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 55K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Milpitas, CA vs Fountain 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	Milpitas, CA	Fountain Valley, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$4,147/mo	$3,213/mo	↓ $934less	22.5%
Transportation	$849/mo	$1,283/mo	↑ $435more	51.3%
Healthcare	$431/mo	$334/mo	↓ $96.91less	22.5%
Other	$1,100/mo	$1,025/mo	↓ $75.13less	6.8%
Groceries	$689/mo	$630/mo	↓ $59.35less	8.6%
All Utilities	$283/mo	$338/mo	↑ $54.31more	19.2%

Housing

↓ 22.5%

Milpitas, CA

$4,147

Fountain Valley, CA

$3,213

Difference

$934

less

Transportation

↑ 51.3%

Milpitas, CA

$849

Fountain Valley, CA

$1,283

Difference

$435

Healthcare

↓ 22.5%

Milpitas, CA

$431

Fountain Valley, CA

$334

Difference

$96.91

less

Other

↓ 6.8%

Milpitas, CA

$1,100

Fountain Valley, CA

$1,025

Difference

$75.13

less

Groceries

↓ 8.6%

Milpitas, CA

$689

Fountain Valley, CA

$630

Difference

$59.35

less

All Utilities

↑ 19.2%

Milpitas, CA

$283

Fountain Valley, CA

$338

Difference

$54.31

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,850

To$2,850

→ $0

1 Bed

From$3,240

To$2,920

↓ $320

2 Bed

From$3,790

To$3,440

↓ $350

3 Bed

From$5,010

To$4,670

↓ $340

Milpitas, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $3,240–$3,240/mo

Fountain Valley, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,920–$2,920/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 Milpitas, CA

$6,824

Monthly in Fountain Valley, CA

$676

Difference

Home Values

Milpitas

Fountain Valley

$1.44M

Median Value

$1.33M

↓ -3.3%

YoY Change

↑ +2%

↑ +32.7%

5-Year Change

↑ +55%

Homes in Fountain Valley are 7% less expensive than Milpitas

Calculate payment - Milpitas Calculate payment - Fountain 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

Milpitas, 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

Fountain 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

Milpitas, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Fountain 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

Milpitas

Fountain Valley

49 Good

Air Quality

54 Moderate

53%

Good Air Days

32.5%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+2.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

5 days

Heat Days >95°F

12 days

▲+2.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

5 days

Heat Days >95°F

12 days

Before moving from Milpitas, CA to Fountain 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 Fountain Valley, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Milpitas, 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 Milpitas to Fountain Valley moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Milpitas, CA vs Fountain Valley, CA

How do the cost estimates for Milpitas, CA and Fountain Valley, CA compare?

Fountain Valley, CA has a modeled overall cost index 11.7% lower than Milpitas, 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 Milpitas, CA, the model estimates $141,883 in Fountain 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 Milpitas, CA and Fountain Valley, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,790/month in Milpitas, CA and $3,440/month in Fountain 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.