Parker, CO vs National City, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

National City, CA has a modeled overall cost index 33.4% higher than Parker, CO.

Parker, CO · modeled 2BR rent: $2,330 / month
National City, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,340 / 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 Parker, CO and National City, 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 Parker, CO

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $2,105/month in National City, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $175,256 in National City, CA

Regional cost estimates: Parker, CO uses Denver, CO. National City, CA uses Chula Vista, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 33.4%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$2,105

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$25.3K

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.

Parker, CO

Population:63K

Cost Index:

104.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$668K

National City, CA

Population:55K

Cost Index:

139.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$672K

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Parker, CO

The Centennial State

63K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Colorado, this city has a population of 63K residents.

National City, 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: Parker, CO vs National City, 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	Parker, CO	National City, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,610/mo	$4,277/mo	↑ $1,667more	63.8%
Other	$1,584/mo	$1,721/mo	↑ $137more	8.6%
Transportation	$1,305/mo	$1,429/mo	↑ $124more	9.5%
All Utilities	$476/mo	$587/mo	↑ $111more	23.3%
Groceries	$944/mo	$999/mo	↑ $55.18more	5.8%
Healthcare	$580/mo	$591/mo	↑ $11.21more	1.9%

Housing

↑ 63.8%

Parker, CO

$2,610

National City, CA

$4,277

Difference

$1,667

Other

↑ 8.6%

Parker, CO

$1,584

National City, CA

$1,721

Difference

$137

Transportation

↑ 9.5%

Parker, CO

$1,305

National City, CA

$1,429

Difference

$124

All Utilities

↑ 23.3%

Parker, CO

$476

National City, CA

$587

Difference

$111

Groceries

↑ 5.8%

Parker, CO

$944

National City, CA

$999

Difference

$55.18

Healthcare

↑ 1.9%

Parker, CO

$580

National City, CA

$591

Difference

$11.21

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,830

To$1,780

↓ $50.00

1 Bed

From$1,960

To$1,920

↓ $40.00

2 Bed

From$2,330

To$2,340

↑ $10.00

3 Bed

From$3,050

To$3,120

↑ $70.00

Parker, COZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,960–$1,960/mo

National City, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,920–$1,920/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 Parker, CO

$9,605

Monthly in National City, CA

$2,105

Difference

Home Values

Parker

National City

$668K

Median Value

$672K

↓ -3%

YoY Change

↓ -0.7%

↑ +23.4%

5-Year Change

↑ +33.3%

Homes in National City are 1% more expensive than Parker

Calculate payment - Parker Calculate payment - National City

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $4.0K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$336

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

2.7%

Rate difference

Parker, CO

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Colorado State Tax

Effective: 4.4%

$6.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.1%

$43.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,866/month

$106.4K

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

Additional Tax Information

Parker, CO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.8%

Property Tax:0.5%

National City, 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

Parker

National City

55 Moderate

Air Quality

71 Moderate

35.2%

Good Air Days

12.8%

95 High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌡

▲+3.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.0°F

28 days

Heat Days >95°F

1 days

▲+3.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.0°F

28 days

Heat Days >95°F

1 days

Before moving from Parker, CO to National City, CA

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Parker, CO vs National City, CA

How do the cost estimates for Parker, CO and National City, CA compare?

National City, CA has a modeled overall cost index 33.4% higher than Parker, CO. 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 Parker, CO, the model estimates $175,256 in National City, 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 Parker, CO and National City, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,330/month in Parker, CO and $2,340/month in National City, 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.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Colorado and California on TaxTakeHome.com