South Gate, CA vs Vacaville, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Vacaville, CA has a modeled overall cost index 14.0% lower than South Gate, CA.

South Gate, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,090 / month
Vacaville, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,310 / 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 South Gate, CA and Vacaville, 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 South Gate, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,266/month in Vacaville, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $134,807 in Vacaville, CA

Regional cost estimates: South Gate, CA uses Long Beach, CA. Vacaville, CA uses Sacramento, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 14.0%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,266

Savings

Annual Impact

$15.2K

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.

South Gate, CA

Population:90K

Cost Index:

130.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$683K

Vacaville, CA

Population:103K

Cost Index:

112.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$611K

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South Gate, CA

The Golden State

90K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 90K residents.

Vacaville, CA

The Golden State

103K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 103K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: South Gate, CA vs Vacaville, 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	South Gate, CA	Vacaville, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,160/mo	$2,340/mo	↓ $820less	25.9%
Transportation	$1,543/mo	$1,008/mo	↓ $535less	34.7%
Other	$1,233/mo	$1,283/mo	↑ $50.35more	4.1%
Healthcare	$401/mo	$449/mo	↑ $47.96more	11.9%
All Utilities	$406/mo	$384/mo	↓ $21.31less	5.3%
Groceries	$757/mo	$768/mo	↑ $11.71more	1.5%

Housing

↓ 25.9%

South Gate, CA

$3,160

Vacaville, CA

$2,340

Difference

$820

less

Transportation

↓ 34.7%

South Gate, CA

$1,543

Vacaville, CA

$1,008

Difference

$535

less

Other

↑ 4.1%

South Gate, CA

$1,233

Vacaville, CA

$1,283

Difference

$50.35

Healthcare

↑ 11.9%

South Gate, CA

$401

Vacaville, CA

$449

Difference

$47.96

All Utilities

↓ 5.3%

South Gate, CA

$406

Vacaville, CA

$384

Difference

$21.31

less

Groceries

↑ 1.5%

South Gate, CA

$757

Vacaville, CA

$768

Difference

$11.71

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,500

To$1,680

↑ $180

1 Bed

From$1,680

To$1,820

↑ $140

2 Bed

From$2,090

To$2,310

↑ $220

3 Bed

From$2,650

To$3,060

↑ $410

South Gate, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,680–$1,680/mo

Vacaville, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,740–$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 South Gate, CA

$6,234

Monthly in Vacaville, CA

$1,266

Difference

Home Values

South Gate

Vacaville

$683K

Median Value

$611K

↓ -0.5%

YoY Change

↓ -1.6%

↑ +27.1%

5-Year Change

↑ +16%

$683K

Price Range

$571K - $650K

Homes in Vacaville are 11% less expensive than South Gate

Calculate payment - South Gate Calculate payment - Vacaville

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

South Gate, 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

Vacaville, 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

South Gate, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Vacaville, 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

South Gate

Vacaville

80 Moderate

Air Quality

51 Moderate

10.4%

Good Air Days

49.7%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

98 High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🌊☀🫨

▲+2.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.4°F

5 days

Heat Days >95°F

69 days

▲+2.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.4°F

5 days

Heat Days >95°F

69 days

Before moving from South Gate, CA to Vacaville, CA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Vacaville, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in South Gate, 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 South Gate to Vacaville moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: South Gate, CA vs Vacaville, CA

How do the cost estimates for South Gate, CA and Vacaville, CA compare?

Vacaville, CA has a modeled overall cost index 14.0% lower than South Gate, 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 South Gate, CA, the model estimates $134,807 in Vacaville, 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 South Gate, CA and Vacaville, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,090/month in South Gate, CA and $2,310/month in Vacaville, 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.