Cost of Living: Riverside, CA vs Walnut Creek, CA

Quick rent-and-take-home comparison

Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $3,974/mo in Riverside, CA versus $3,974/mo in Walnut Creek, CA. In the model, rent is about 26.4% of gross in Riverside, CA versus 38.07% in Walnut Creek, CA, so Riverside, CA tends to feel more affordable for rent.

Take-home in Riverside, CA
$3,974/mo
Income level: below
Take-home in Walnut Creek, CA
$3,974/mo
Income level: below
Rent share (1BR) in Riverside, CA
26.4%
COLI tier: mid-range
Rent share (1BR) in Walnut Creek, CA
38.07%
COLI tier: mid-range

Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Riverside, CA and Walnut Creek, CA.

At a glance

  • Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Walnut Creek, CA
  • Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Riverside, CA
  • Lower home prices: Riverside, CA
  • Higher median household income: Walnut Creek, CA

Cost of Living Index

Riverside, CA: 100 (U.S. = 100) · Walnut Creek, CA: 100 (U.S. = 100)

Both cities have the same cost-of-living index (U.S. average = 100).

Median Rent

Riverside, CA: $1,722/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Walnut Creek, CA: $2,483/mo

Median rent in Walnut Creek, CA is $761/mo higher than in Riverside, CA.

Median Home Price

Riverside, CA: $542,100 · Walnut Creek, CA: $1,031,100

Median home price in Walnut Creek, CA is $489,000 higher than in Riverside, CA.

Median Household Income

Riverside, CA: $88,575 · Walnut Creek, CA: $135,665

Walnut Creek, CA has a higher median household income than Riverside, CA by $47,090.

Riverside, CA overview · Walnut Creek, CA overview · Popular comparisons