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

Which city costs less?

Lemon Grove, CA has a modeled overall cost index 11.2% lower than San Fernando, CA.

San Fernando, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,370 / month
Lemon Grove, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,460 / 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 San Fernando, CA and Lemon Grove, 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 San Fernando, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,051/month in Lemon Grove, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $137,386 in Lemon Grove, CA

Regional cost estimates: San Fernando, CA uses Los Angeles, CA. Lemon Grove, CA uses Chula Vista, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 11.2%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,051

Savings

Annual Impact

$12.6K

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.

San Fernando, CA

Population:23K

Cost Index:

154.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$726K

Lemon Grove, CA

Population:28K

Cost Index:

136.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$738K

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San Fernando, CA

The Golden State

23K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 23K residents.

Lemon Grove, CA

The Golden State

28K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 28K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: San Fernando, CA vs Lemon Grove, 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	San Fernando, CA	Lemon Grove, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,979/mo	$2,867/mo	↓ $1,113less	28.0%
Transportation	$1,231/mo	$958/mo	↓ $273less	22.2%
Other	$988/mo	$1,153/mo	↑ $166more	16.8%
Healthcare	$335/mo	$399/mo	↑ $64.05more	19.1%
All Utilities	$337/mo	$397/mo	↑ $59.26more	17.6%
Groceries	$629/mo	$675/mo	↑ $45.67more	7.3%

Housing

↓ 28.0%

San Fernando, CA

$3,979

Lemon Grove, CA

$2,867

Difference

$1,113

less

Transportation

↓ 22.2%

San Fernando, CA

$1,231

Lemon Grove, CA

$958

Difference

$273

less

Other

↑ 16.8%

San Fernando, CA

$988

Lemon Grove, CA

$1,153

Difference

$166

Healthcare

↑ 19.1%

San Fernando, CA

$335

Lemon Grove, CA

$399

Difference

$64.05

All Utilities

↑ 17.6%

San Fernando, CA

$337

Lemon Grove, CA

$397

Difference

$59.26

Groceries

↑ 7.3%

San Fernando, CA

$629

Lemon Grove, CA

$675

Difference

$45.67

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,700

To$1,880

↑ $180

1 Bed

From$1,900

To$2,020

↑ $120

2 Bed

From$2,370

To$2,460

↑ $90.00

3 Bed

From$3,000

To$3,280

↑ $280

San Fernando, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,900–$1,900/mo

Lemon Grove, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,020–$2,020/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 San Fernando, CA

$6,449

Monthly in Lemon Grove, CA

$1,051

Difference

Home Values

San Fernando

Lemon Grove

$726K

Median Value

$738K

↓ -0.7%

YoY Change

↓ -2.2%

↑ +30.7%

5-Year Change

↑ +33.1%

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

Calculate payment - San Fernando Calculate payment - 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

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

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

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

Additional Tax Information

San Fernando, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Lemon Grove, 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

San Fernando

Lemon Grove

80 Moderate

Air Quality

71 Moderate

10.4%

Good Air Days

12.8%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌡

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.0°F

17 days

Heat Days >95°F

1 days

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.0°F

17 days

Heat Days >95°F

1 days

Before moving from San Fernando, CA to Lemon Grove, CA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Lemon Grove, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in San Fernando, 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 San Fernando to Lemon Grove moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: San Fernando, CA vs Lemon Grove, CA

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

Lemon Grove, CA has a modeled overall cost index 11.2% lower than San Fernando, 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 San Fernando, CA, the model estimates $137,386 in Lemon Grove, 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 San Fernando, CA and Lemon Grove, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,370/month in San Fernando, CA and $2,460/month in Lemon Grove, 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.