Ukiah, CA vs Grass Valley, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Grass Valley, CA has a modeled overall cost index 11.9% lower than Ukiah, CA.

Ukiah, CA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,740 / month
Grass Valley, CA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,810 / 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓
Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Ukiah, CA and Grass 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,271/month in Grass Valley, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $134,753 in Grass Valley, CA

Regional cost estimates: Ukiah, CA uses San Francisco, CA. Grass Valley, CA uses Sacramento, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 11.9%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,271
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.

Ukiah, CA

Population:16K
Cost Index:
121.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$469K

Grass Valley, CA

Population:14K
Cost Index:
107.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$498K

Planning the move to Grass Valley?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Ukiah, CA

The Golden State

16K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 16K residents.

Grass Valley, CA

The Golden State

14K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 14K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Ukiah, CA vs Grass 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.

Housing
↓ 44.4%
Ukiah, CA
$4,181
Grass Valley, CA
$2,325
Difference
$1,857
less
Other
↑ 43.0%
Ukiah, CA
$891
Grass Valley, CA
$1,275
Difference
$383
more
All Utilities
↑ 44.0%
Ukiah, CA
$271
Grass Valley, CA
$391
Difference
$119
more
Groceries
↑ 11.3%
Ukiah, CA
$702
Grass Valley, CA
$781
Difference
$79.08
more
Healthcare
↑ 6.8%
Ukiah, CA
$428
Grass Valley, CA
$457
Difference
$29.13
more
Transportation
↓ 2.4%
Ukiah, CA
$1,026
Grass Valley, CA
$1,001
Difference
$24.72
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,290
To$1,370
↑ $80.00
1 Bed
From$1,330
To$1,380
↑ $50.00
2 Bed
From$1,740
To$1,810
↑ $70.00
3 Bed
From$2,420
To$2,530
↑ $110
Ukiah, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,330–$1,330/mo

Grass Valley, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,230–$1,530/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 Ukiah, CA
$6,229
Monthly in Grass Valley, CA
$1,271
Difference

Home Values

Ukiah
Grass Valley
$469K
Median Value
$498K
↓ -5.5%
YoY Change
↓ -1.2%
↓ -14.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +11.3%
$469K
Price Range
$467K - $530K

Homes in Grass Valley are 6% more expensive than Ukiah

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
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Ukiah, 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

Grass 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

Ukiah, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%
Property Tax:0.8%

Grass 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

Ukiah
Grass Valley
33 Good
Air Quality
51 Moderate
76%
Good Air Days
49.7%
100 Very High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🫨
Top Hazards
🌊☀🫨
▲+2.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.4°F
1 days
Heat Days >95°F
69 days
▲+2.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.4°F
1 days
Heat Days >95°F
69 days

Before moving from Ukiah, CA to Grass Valley, CA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Grass Valley, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Ukiah, CA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Ukiah to Grass Valley moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Ukiah, CA vs Grass Valley, CA

How do the cost estimates for Ukiah, CA and Grass Valley, CA compare?

Grass Valley, CA has a modeled overall cost index 11.9% lower than Ukiah, 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 Ukiah, CA, the model estimates $134,753 in Grass 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 Ukiah, CA and Grass Valley, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,740/month in Ukiah, CA and $1,810/month in Grass 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.

Similar cost to Grass Valley, CA

Other cities in a similar price range

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison