Ontario, CA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Ontario, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Ontario →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Ontario, California is home to roughly 176,326 residents. The typical household here earns $78,070 a year — roughly in line with the median we track across cities (+8%).
Anyone weighing a move to Ontario should know the median home value is $513,000, above the multi-city median (+57%), and median rent runs $1,826 per month. Current mortgage rates and local property taxes both affect the real math of buying versus renting.
At roughly 6.6 times median income, Ontario's home values rank among the more stretched we track — buying here takes a larger share of local pay. Home prices near Ontario have risen a steady 1.23% over the past year — measured growth, not a spike. Natural-hazard exposure in Ontario is rated Very High by FEMA, on the elevated end — something to check with insurers before buying.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,826/mo in Ontario would take 28.1% of your income.
$126/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($513,000) would take 42.1% of your income toward principal & interest.
$917/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Ontario
Median home value is $513,000 and median gross rent is $1,826/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for San Bernardino rose 1.23% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $2,201/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Ontario's overall natural-hazard risk as Very High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Ontario reported a violent crime rate of 243.9 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Ontario
Planning a move to Ontario? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Ontario, CA?
- Housing drives most of the cost-of-living picture in Ontario — median home value of $513,000, median rent of $1,826/month — set against a median household income of $78,070 (US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022)).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ontario?
- A common guideline is that rent should stay under 30% of gross income. With median rent at $1,826/month in Ontario, that implies an income of about $73,040 to keep housing affordable. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Ontario.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Ontario?
- Buying at Ontario's median home value of $513,000 takes about $117,372 a year in principal-and-interest income (20% down, 30-year fixed, current mortgage rates), compared with roughly $73,040 a year to comfortably rent at the median $1,826/month. Down payment and expected length of stay usually settle the question.
- Is Ontario safe?
- The most recent FBI figures (2025) show a violent crime rate of 243.9 per 100,000 residents in Ontario.
See the full salary breakdown for Ontario →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Ontario's.