Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,560 in Santa Ana, CA versus $1,500 in Tacoma, WA. Overall, Tacoma, WA is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Santa Ana, CA, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $109,739 in Santa Ana, CA and $83,857 in Tacoma, WA — about 24% higher in Santa Ana, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Los Angeles vs Washington.
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — OCTA vs — (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Santa Ana vs Tacoma — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Santa Ana or Tacoma?
- Tacoma, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Santa Ana, CA's $2,560, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Santa Ana than in Tacoma?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $89,000 a year in Santa Ana versus $53,000 in Tacoma.
- Which has lower taxes, Santa Ana or Tacoma?
- Santa Ana is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Tacoma under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).