What is the cost of living in Ontario, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Ontario has an overall cost of living index of 141, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Ontario has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Ontario ranks as #245 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Ontario ranks as the #389 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Ontario, check out:
Ontario Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Ontario. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Ontario is 110.
The Groceries index in Ontario is 118.
The Health index in Ontario is 208.
The Housing index in Ontario is 118.
The Transportation index in Ontario is 122.
The Utilities index in Ontario is 119.
| Living Expense | Ontario | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 141 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 118 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 208 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 122 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 121 | 100 |
Ontario Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Ontario Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Ontario, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Ontario is $672,742.
The Median Rent in Ontario is $2,030.
The Median Income in Ontario is $88,941.
The Home Value To Income in Ontario is 7.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Ontario is 0.27x.
| Statistic | Ontario | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $672,742 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,030 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $88,941 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.6x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.27x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Ontario, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Ontario Services costs vs. California
| Item | Ontario | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.34 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.04 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.11 | $18 |
| Haircut | $27.27 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $41.78 | $45.56 |
Detailed Ontario Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Ontario | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.89 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.49 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.92 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.92 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.31 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.26 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed Ontario Health costs vs. California
| Item | Ontario | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Ontario Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Ontario | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Ontario Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Ontario | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Ontario SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Ontario
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Ontario. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Rancho Cucamonga, CA has a cost of living index of 159, 1.1x Ontario.
Pomona, CA has a cost of living index of 146, 1.0x Ontario.
Jurupa Valley, CA has a cost of living index of 139, 1.0x Ontario.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Ontario |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 175,411 | 159 | 1.1x |
| Pomona, CA | 147,943 | 146 | 1.0x |
| Jurupa Valley, CA | 107,011 | 139 | 1.0x |
| Chino, CA | 92,652 | 156 | 1.1x |
| Upland, CA | 79,257 | 158 | 1.1x |
| Eastvale, CA | 70,633 | 174 | 1.2x |
| Yorba Linda, CA | 67,170 | 203 | 1.4x |
| Diamond Bar, CA | 53,355 | 184 | 1.3x |
| Placentia, CA | 52,826 | 173 | 1.2x |
| Montclair, CA | 37,810 | 138 | 1.0x |
