Question 1

Is Bellevue or Fontana cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Fontana, CA is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $878/month less than in Bellevue, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $2,501/mo in Bellevue versus $1,733/mo in Fontana.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Bellevue vs Fontana?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $89,500/year before tax in Bellevue, WA and $76,000/year in Fontana, CA — a difference of about $13,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Bellevue or Fontana cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Fontana, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $13,090/month in Bellevue and $10,384/month in Fontana, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Bellevue or Fontana?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Fontana costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Bellevue63	Fontana69
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,962	$4,084
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$13,090	$10,384
Salary for comfort	$89,500/yr	$76,000/yr
Typical rent	$2,501	$1,733
Median home value	$1,203,100	$558,500
Median household income	$161,300	$98,187
Unemployment	4.6%	4.8%
Housing score	45	53
Jobs score	38	34
Safety score	79	79
Climate score	92	100
Amenities score	55	58
Population	151.2K	211.9K
Summer high / winter low	77° / 37°	92° / 44°

Bellevue, WA vs Fontana, CA