Cost of Living in Fontana, CA
Cost of Living in Fontana, CA has an overall index of 148, 48% above the U.S. baseline of 100. The typical home value is $634,471; typical monthly rent is $1,733; and median household income is $98,187.
Cost index: committed city housing/rent inputs and BEA 2024 metro-area price parities. Home value: Zillow ZHVI market signal as of 2026-02. Rent: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. A place-level signal, not a personal affordability decision or financial recommendation.
Home prices are the main source of pressure. This describes the local market, not your household.
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Frequently asked questions about Fontana
Living in Fontana
Is Fontana, CA an expensive place to live?+
Yes — Fontana is about 48% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 148. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $634,471, and monthly rents average roughly $1,733. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.
How does Fontana fit a household housing budget?+
Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,733, while local median household income is $98,187. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 21% before utilities and other costs. Use that as a planning signal for whether the place looks manageable under your own household assumptions.
How much are taxes in Fontana, CA?+
California uses a progressive model; 13.3% is top marginal-rate context. Applying the 0.71% state-level effective owner-occupied proxy to a home worth $634,471 gives a planning estimate near $4,505 per year; it is not a city, county, parcel, or individual tax bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is around 8.85%.
How much does it cost to rent in Fontana, CA?+
The typical monthly rent in Fontana is around $1,733. That's about 29% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $634,471, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.
How much does a house cost in Fontana, CA?+
The typical home value in Fontana is $634,471. With 20% down and the committed 6.11% national 30-year fixed benchmark as of 2026-03-12, principal and interest are roughly $3,079/month before property tax and insurance. This is a planning estimate, not a local lender quote. About 67% of residents here own their homes.
Are groceries and utilities expensive in Fontana?+
Grocery prices in Fontana are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 101, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are on the high side (index: 149). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.
What is Fontana, CA like to live in?+
Fontana is a mid-sized city with a population of about 211,921. The median age of residents is 33.3, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 10.34%, near the national average of 12.4%.