West Hollywood, CA vs Fountain Valley, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Fountain Valley, CA has a modeled overall cost index 4.7% lower than West Hollywood, CA.

West Hollywood, CA · modeled 2BR rent
$3,710 / month
Fountain Valley, CA · modeled 2BR rent
$3,440 / 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 West Hollywood, CA and Fountain 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: $471/month in Fountain Valley, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $144,351 in Fountain Valley, CA

Regional cost estimates: West Hollywood, CA uses Los Angeles, CA. Fountain Valley, CA uses Santa Ana, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 4.7%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$471
Savings
Annual Impact
$5.6K
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.

West Hollywood, CA

Population:34K
Cost Index:
155.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$1.26M

Fountain Valley, CA

Population:55K
Cost Index:
148.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$1.33M

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West Hollywood, CA

The Golden State

34K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 34K residents.

Fountain Valley, 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: West Hollywood, CA vs Fountain 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
↓ 16.9%
West Hollywood, CA
$3,982
Fountain Valley, CA
$3,310
Difference
$673
less
Transportation
↑ 7.3%
West Hollywood, CA
$1,232
Fountain Valley, CA
$1,322
Difference
$89.78
more
Other
↑ 6.9%
West Hollywood, CA
$988
Fountain Valley, CA
$1,056
Difference
$67.90
more
Groceries
↑ 3.5%
West Hollywood, CA
$627
Fountain Valley, CA
$649
Difference
$21.82
more
All Utilities
↑ 3.6%
West Hollywood, CA
$336
Fountain Valley, CA
$348
Difference
$12.02
more
Healthcare
↑ 3.1%
West Hollywood, CA
$334
Fountain Valley, CA
$344
Difference
$10.40
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$2,660
To$2,850
↑ $190
1 Bed
From$2,970
To$2,920
↓ $50.00
2 Bed
From$3,710
To$3,440
↓ $270
3 Bed
From$4,700
To$4,670
↓ $30.00
West Hollywood, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,970–$2,970/mo

Fountain Valley, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,920–$2,920/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 West Hollywood, CA
$7,029
Monthly in Fountain Valley, CA
$471
Difference

Home Values

West Hollywood
Fountain Valley
$1.26M
Median Value
$1.33M
↓ -2.3%
YoY Change
↑ +2%
↑ +4%
5-Year Change
↑ +55%

Homes in Fountain Valley are 6% more expensive than West Hollywood

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

West Hollywood, 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

Fountain 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

West Hollywood, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%
Property Tax:0.8%

Fountain 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

West Hollywood
Fountain Valley
80 Moderate
Air Quality
54 Moderate
10.4%
Good Air Days
32.5%
100 Very High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🔥🌊🌅
Top Hazards
🔥🌊🌅
▲+2.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.6°F
17 days
Heat Days >95°F
12 days
▲+2.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.6°F
17 days
Heat Days >95°F
12 days

Before moving from West Hollywood, CA to Fountain 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 Fountain Valley, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in West Hollywood, 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 West Hollywood to Fountain Valley moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: West Hollywood, CA vs Fountain Valley, CA

How do the cost estimates for West Hollywood, CA and Fountain Valley, CA compare?

Fountain Valley, CA has a modeled overall cost index 4.7% lower than West Hollywood, 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 West Hollywood, CA, the model estimates $144,351 in Fountain 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 West Hollywood, CA and Fountain Valley, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,710/month in West Hollywood, CA and $3,440/month in Fountain 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.

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