National City, CA vs Pico Rivera, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Pico Rivera, CA has a modeled overall cost index 7.2% lower than National City, CA.

National City, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,340 / month
Pico Rivera, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,490 / 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 National City, CA and Pico Rivera, 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 National City, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $117/month in Pico Rivera, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,598 in Pico Rivera, CA

Regional cost estimates: National City, CA uses Chula Vista, CA. Pico Rivera, CA uses Long Beach, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 7.2%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$117

Savings

Annual Impact

$1.4K

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.

National City, CA

Population:55K

Cost Index:

139.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$672K

Pico Rivera, CA

Population:59K

Cost Index:

128.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$736K

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National City, CA

The Golden State

55K

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Pico Rivera, CA

The Golden State

59K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 59K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: National City, CA vs Pico Rivera, 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	National City, CA	Pico Rivera, CA	Difference	Change
Transportation	$1,116/mo	$1,518/mo	↑ $401more	36.0%
Housing	$3,340/mo	$3,108/mo	↓ $232less	6.9%
Other	$1,344/mo	$1,212/mo	↓ $132less	9.8%
Healthcare	$461/mo	$397/mo	↓ $64.79less	14.0%
All Utilities	$458/mo	$401/mo	↓ $57.40less	12.5%
Groceries	$780/mo	$748/mo	↓ $32.79less	4.2%

Transportation

↑ 36.0%

National City, CA

$1,116

Pico Rivera, CA

$1,518

Difference

$401

Housing

↓ 6.9%

National City, CA

$3,340

Pico Rivera, CA

$3,108

Difference

$232

less

Other

↓ 9.8%

National City, CA

$1,344

Pico Rivera, CA

$1,212

Difference

$132

less

Healthcare

↓ 14.0%

National City, CA

$461

Pico Rivera, CA

$397

Difference

$64.79

less

All Utilities

↓ 12.5%

National City, CA

$458

Pico Rivera, CA

$401

Difference

$57.40

less

Groceries

↓ 4.2%

National City, CA

$780

Pico Rivera, CA

$748

Difference

$32.79

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,780

To$1,780

→ $0

1 Bed

From$1,920

To$2,000

↑ $80.00

2 Bed

From$2,340

To$2,490

↑ $150

3 Bed

From$3,120

To$3,160

↑ $40.00

National City, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,920–$1,920/mo

Pico Rivera, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,000–$2,000/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 National City, CA

$7,383

Monthly in Pico Rivera, CA

$117

Difference

Home Values

National City

Pico Rivera

$672K

Median Value

$736K

↓ -0.7%

YoY Change

↓ -1.4%

↑ +33.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +29.3%

Homes in Pico Rivera are 9% more expensive than National City

Calculate payment - National City Calculate payment - Pico Rivera

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

National City, 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

Pico Rivera, 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

National City, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Pico Rivera, 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

National City

Pico Rivera

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

▲+2.3°F

1 days

Heat Days >95°F

5 days

▲+2.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.3°F

1 days

Heat Days >95°F

5 days

Before moving from National City, CA to Pico Rivera, CA

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: National City, CA vs Pico Rivera, CA

How do the cost estimates for National City, CA and Pico Rivera, CA compare?

Pico Rivera, CA has a modeled overall cost index 7.2% lower than National City, 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 National City, CA, the model estimates $148,598 in Pico Rivera, 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 National City, CA and Pico Rivera, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,340/month in National City, CA and $2,490/month in Pico Rivera, 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.