Vacaville, CA vs Indio, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Indio, CA has a modeled overall cost index 3.9% lower than Vacaville, CA.

Vacaville, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,310 / month
Indio, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,370 / 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 Vacaville, CA and Indio, 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 Vacaville, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $179/month in Indio, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $152,150 in Indio, CA

Regional cost estimates: Vacaville, CA uses Sacramento, CA. Indio, CA uses San Bernardino, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 3.9%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$179

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$2.1K

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.

Vacaville, CA

Population:103K

Cost Index:

112.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$611K

Indio, CA

Population:93K

Cost Index:

107.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$557K

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Vacaville, CA

The Golden State

103K

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Indio, CA

The Golden State

93K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 93K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Vacaville, CA vs Indio, 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	Vacaville, CA	Indio, CA	Difference	Change
Transportation	$1,213/mo	$1,918/mo	↑ $705more	58.1%
Housing	$2,816/mo	$2,390/mo	↓ $425less	15.1%
Other	$1,544/mo	$1,458/mo	↓ $85.64less	5.5%
Healthcare	$541/mo	$491/mo	↓ $49.73less	9.2%
All Utilities	$463/mo	$496/mo	↑ $33.69more	7.3%
Groceries	$924/mo	$925/mo	↑ $0.92more	0.1%

Transportation

↑ 58.1%

Vacaville, CA

$1,213

Indio, CA

$1,918

Difference

$705

Housing

↓ 15.1%

Vacaville, CA

$2,816

Indio, CA

$2,390

Difference

$425

less

Other

↓ 5.5%

Vacaville, CA

$1,544

Indio, CA

$1,458

Difference

$85.64

less

Healthcare

↓ 9.2%

Vacaville, CA

$541

Indio, CA

$491

Difference

$49.73

less

All Utilities

↑ 7.3%

Vacaville, CA

$463

Indio, CA

$496

Difference

$33.69

Groceries

↑ 0.1%

Vacaville, CA

$924

Indio, CA

$925

Difference

$0.92

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,680

To$1,820

↑ $140

1 Bed

From$1,820

To$1,910

↑ $90.00

2 Bed

From$2,310

To$2,370

↑ $60.00

3 Bed

From$3,060

To$3,140

↑ $80.00

Vacaville, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,740–$1,900/mo

Indio, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,910–$1,910/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 Vacaville, CA

$7,679

Monthly in Indio, CA

$179

Difference

Home Values

Vacaville

Indio

$611K

Median Value

$557K

↓ -1.6%

YoY Change

↓ -2.7%

↑ +16%

5-Year Change

↑ +38.3%

$571K - $650K

Price Range

$557K

Homes in Indio are 9% less expensive than Vacaville

Calculate payment - Vacaville Calculate payment - Indio

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

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

Indio, 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

Vacaville, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Indio, 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

Vacaville

Indio

51 Moderate

Air Quality

87 Moderate

49.7%

Good Air Days

10.9%

98 High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🌊☀🫨

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌡

▲+2.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

69 days

Heat Days >95°F

100 days

▲+2.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

69 days

Heat Days >95°F

100 days

Before moving from Vacaville, CA to Indio, CA

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Vacaville, CA vs Indio, CA

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

Indio, CA has a modeled overall cost index 3.9% lower than Vacaville, 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 Vacaville, CA, the model estimates $152,150 in Indio, 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 Vacaville, CA and Indio, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,310/month in Vacaville, CA and $2,370/month in Indio, 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.