Living Cost Compare
Anaheim

California

$2,090/mo est.

vs
Arlington

Texas

$1,370/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,090 in Anaheim, CA versus $1,370 in Arlington, TX. Overall, Arlington, TX is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anaheim, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,583 in Anaheim, CA and $73,519 in Arlington, TX — about 19% higher in Anaheim, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Anaheim, CA
Arlington, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,929
$1,088
+44% in Anaheim, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,764
$1,183
+33% in Anaheim, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,171
$1,410
+35% in Anaheim, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,653
$1,819
+31% in Anaheim, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$771,700
$276,400
+64% in Anaheim, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$90,583
$73,519
+19% in Anaheim, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$51,440
+8% in Anaheim, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
33.6 yr
+2.3 yr in Anaheim, CA
Homeownership
45.9%
54.8%
+8.9 pp in Arlington, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.8%
33.1%
+4.3 pp in Arlington, TX
Avg Commute
28.2 min
26.7 min
+1.5 min in Anaheim, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
597.4
492.4
+18% in Anaheim, CA
Property Crime
2,234.6
2,433.5
+9% in Arlington, TX

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.1°F
65.4°F
+1.7°F in Anaheim, CA
Annual Precipitation
13.4 in
39.6 in
+26.2 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.89/gal
$3.96/gal
+33% in Anaheim, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
N/A

Adult base one-way fare — OCTA vs Arlington On-Demand (Via) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
16.4
+51% in Anaheim, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$24.61
+19% in Arlington, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in Anaheim, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in Anaheim, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Anaheim, CA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in Anaheim, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in Anaheim, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% in Anaheim, CA

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / TX)
7.25%
6.25%
+1.0 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
None
+13.3 pp in CA

Anaheim vs Arlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anaheim or Arlington?
Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Anaheim, CA's $2,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anaheim than in Arlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $71,000 a year in Anaheim versus $47,000 in Arlington.
Which has lower taxes, Anaheim or Arlington?
Anaheim is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Arlington under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).