Head to head
Elk Grove, CA vs Ontario, CA
Elk Grove is cheaper — estimated essentials for a single person run about $193/mo less, and living comfortably there takes roughly $4,500 less in annual salary (taxes included).
It flips for a family. For two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child, Ontario is the cheaper of the two — rent scales to household size using each city's own bedroom spread, and childcare varies even more sharply between cities than rent does.
| Metric | Elk Grove70 | Ontario58 |
|---|---|---|
| Est. monthly cost (single) | $4,515 | $4,708 |
| Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare) | $11,495 | $11,075 |
| Salary for comfort | $86,000/yr | $90,500/yr |
| Typical rent | $2,180 | $2,201 |
| Median home value | $603,400 | $568,000 |
| Median household income | $122,229 | $82,806 |
| Unemployment | 4.6% | 4.7% |
| Housing score | 64 | 16 |
| Jobs score | 42 | 37 |
| Safety score | 88 | 70 |
| Climate score | 100 | 100 |
| Amenities score | 46 | 51 |
| Population | 177.2K | 178.3K |
| Summer high / winter low | 92° / 39° | 92° / 44° |
Fit scores use the reference profile (single, $6,700/mo gross, default weights). Green marks the better value per row.
Elk Grove, CA
Ontario, CA