Santa Ana, CA vs. San Bernardino, CA: Cost of Living Comparison (2025)
Considering a move to Santa Ana or San Bernardino, California? This cost of living comparison will help you decide which city best fits your lifestyle and budget. We’ll break down housing, utilities, groceries, taxes and more to determine which location is more affordable in 2025.
1. Housing Costs
Housing is often the biggest factor in cost of living. Here’s how typical rent and home prices compare between Santa Ana and San Bernardino:
| Housing Type | Santa Ana | San Bernardino |
|---|---|---|
| 2BR Apartment (Monthly Rent) | $2,400 | $1,600 |
| 3BR House (Median Price) | $850,000 | $450,000 |
🏆 Winner: San Bernardino. Housing costs are significantly lower in San Bernardino compared to Santa Ana, with savings of $800/month on a typical 2BR apartment and $400,000 on the median price of a 3BR home.
2. Utilities and Energy Costs
Utility bills are another important consideration. Here’s what you can expect to pay monthly in each city:
- Santa Ana: $180-$250/month, with higher costs in summer for A/C usage
- San Bernardino: $140-$200/month, with more moderate seasonal changes
Both cities offer “time of use” plans to help reduce energy bills by using appliances during off-peak hours. Check with your local utility provider for details.
🏆 Winner: San Bernardino has lower utility costs on average, with potential savings of $40-$50/month compared to Santa Ana.
3. Groceries and Daily Expenses
The cost of food, household items, and dining out is fairly comparable between Santa Ana and San Bernardino. Expect to spend around $400-$600/month per person on groceries and daily goods in either city.
However, San Bernardino does have slightly lower prices overall, especially at discount grocery chains. A gallon of milk averages about $0.30 cheaper in San Bernardino than Santa Ana.
🏆 Winner: San Bernardino edges out Santa Ana on grocery costs, but the difference is minimal. Budget around the same for food in either city.
4. Taxes and Fees
California has relatively high income taxes statewide, but there are some differences in local taxes and fees:
- Property Tax Rate: 1.15% in Santa Ana vs. 1.25% in San Bernardino
- Utility User Tax: 6% in Santa Ana vs. 7.75% in San Bernardino
- Typical HOA Fees: $350-$450/month in Santa Ana vs. $200-$350/month in San Bernardino
Santa Ana HOA fees often include extras like landscaping, exterior maintenance, and trash. San Bernardino HOAs tend to cover fewer services.
🏆 Winner: Santa Ana has a slight edge on property taxes and utility fees, but San Bernardino’s lower HOA costs are a bigger factor for most homeowners. It’s close to a tie.
5. Cost Summary Table
| Monthly Expense | Santa Ana | San Bernardino |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (3BR Mortgage*) | $4,000 | $2,200 |
| Utilities | $220 | $180 |
| Groceries | $500 | $450 |
| Transportation | $200 | $180 |
| Taxes (1.15% vs 1.25%) | $800 | $470 |
| Misc Expenses | $500 | $500 |
| Estimated Monthly Total | $6,220 | $3,980 |
*Based on median 3BR home price with 20% down and 5% mortgage rate. All income figures are gross monthly income (pre-tax).
6. Lifestyle Fit
While San Bernardino is clearly more affordable, there are tradeoffs to consider:
- Santa Ana has better walkability and public transit access
- San Bernardino offers more space and lower-density neighborhoods
- Santa Ana’s homes are $150/sq ft more expensive than San Bernardino’s
- San Bernardino is 5°F hotter on average in the summer
7. Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Ana more affordable than San Bernardino?
No, San Bernardino has a lower overall cost of living, primarily due to cheaper housing. See the full cost of living breakdown for Santa Ana.
Which city has lower rent?
San Bernardino rents are around 30% lower than Santa Ana. A typical 2BR apartment runs $1,600/month in San Bernardino vs. $2,400/month in Santa Ana.
Where is it cheaper to buy a home?
The median price of a 3BR house is $450,000 in San Bernardino compared to $850,000 in Santa Ana, so buyers can expect significantly lower mortgage payments in San Bernardino.
8. Conclusion
San Bernardino offers a lower cost of living across the board compared to Santa Ana, with the biggest savings in housing. A household moving from Santa Ana to San Bernardino could potentially save over $2,000/month on expenses.
However, Santa Ana may still be worth the premium for those who value its walkable neighborhoods, coastal access, and public transit. It comes down to budget and lifestyle priorities.
Considering other California cities? Check out our monthly budget examples for Santa Ana and cost of living comparisons for major metros in the state.
Santa Ana, CA vs. San Bernardino, CA: Cost of Living Comparison (2025)
Considering a move to Santa Ana or San Bernardino, California? This cost of living comparison will help you decide which city best fits your lifestyle and budget. We’ll break down housing, utilities, groceries, taxes and more to determine which location is more affordable in 2025.
1. Housing Costs
Housing is often the biggest factor in cost of living. Here’s how typical rent and home prices compare between Santa Ana and San Bernardino:
| Housing Type | Santa Ana | San Bernardino |
|---|---|---|
| 2BR Apartment (Monthly Rent) | $2,400 | $1,600 |
| 3BR House (Median Price) | $850,000 | $450,000 |
🏆 Winner: San Bernardino. Housing costs are significantly lower in San Bernardino compared to Santa Ana, with savings of $800/month on a typical 2BR apartment and $400,000 on the median price of a 3BR home.
2. Utilities and Energy Costs
Utility bills are another important consideration. Here’s what you can expect to pay monthly in each city:
- Santa Ana: $180-$250/month, with higher costs in summer for A/C usage
- San Bernardino: $140-$200/month, with more moderate seasonal changes
Both cities offer “time of use” plans to help reduce energy bills by using appliances during off-peak hours. Check with your local utility provider for details.
🏆 Winner: San Bernardino has lower utility costs on average, with potential savings of $40-$50/month compared to Santa Ana.
3. Groceries and Daily Expenses
The cost of food, household items, and dining out is fairly comparable between Santa Ana and San Bernardino. Expect to spend around $400-$600/month per person on groceries and daily goods in either city.
However, San Bernardino does have slightly lower prices overall, especially at discount grocery chains. A gallon of milk averages about $0.30 cheaper in San Bernardino than Santa Ana.
🏆 Winner: San Bernardino edges out Santa Ana on grocery costs, but the difference is minimal. Budget around the same for food in either city.
4. Taxes and Fees
California has relatively high income taxes statewide, but there are some differences in local taxes and fees:
- Property Tax Rate: 1.15% in Santa Ana vs. 1.25% in San Bernardino
- Utility User Tax: 6% in Santa Ana vs. 7.75% in San Bernardino
- Typical HOA Fees: $350-$450/month in Santa Ana vs. $200-$350/month in San Bernardino
Santa Ana HOA fees often include extras like landscaping, exterior maintenance, and trash. San Bernardino HOAs tend to cover fewer services.
🏆 Winner: Santa Ana has a slight edge on property taxes and utility fees, but San Bernardino’s lower HOA costs are a bigger factor for most homeowners. It’s close to a tie.
5. Cost Summary Table
| Monthly Expense | Santa Ana | San Bernardino |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (3BR Mortgage*) | $4,000 | $2,200 |
| Utilities | $220 | $180 |
| Groceries | $500 | $450 |
| Transportation | $200 | $180 |
| Taxes (1.15% vs 1.25%) | $800 | $470 |
| Misc Expenses | $500 | $500 |
| Estimated Monthly Total | $6,220 | $3,980 |
*Based on median 3BR home price with 20% down and 5% mortgage rate. All income figures are gross monthly income (pre-tax).
6. Lifestyle Fit
While San Bernardino is clearly more affordable, there are tradeoffs to consider:
- Santa Ana has better walkability and public transit access
- San Bernardino offers more space and lower-density neighborhoods
- Santa Ana’s homes are $150/sq ft more expensive than San Bernardino’s
- San Bernardino is 5°F hotter on average in the summer
7. Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Ana more affordable than San Bernardino?
No, San Bernardino has a lower overall cost of living, primarily due to cheaper housing. See the full cost of living breakdown for Santa Ana.
Which city has lower rent?
San Bernardino rents are around 30% lower than Santa Ana. A typical 2BR apartment runs $1,600/month in San Bernardino vs. $2,400/month in Santa Ana.
Where is it cheaper to buy a home?
The median price of a 3BR house is $450,000 in San Bernardino compared to $850,000 in Santa Ana, so buyers can expect significantly lower mortgage payments in San Bernardino.
8. Conclusion
San Bernardino offers a lower cost of living across the board compared to Santa Ana, with the biggest savings in housing. A household moving from Santa Ana to San Bernardino could potentially save over $2,000/month on expenses.
However, Santa Ana may still be worth the premium for those who value its walkable neighborhoods, coastal access, and public transit. It comes down to budget and lifestyle priorities.
Considering other California cities? Check out our monthly budget examples for Santa Ana and cost of living comparisons for major metros in the state.