Simi Valley, CA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Simi Valley, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Simi Valley →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Roughly 126,153 people call Simi Valley, California home. Household income runs $112,144 at the median, above what we see across the broader set of cities (+56%).
Housing costs are a defining factor for anyone relocating to Simi Valley. The median home value sits at $704,200 (above the multi-city median at +116%), while renters pay a median of $2,402 per month. Buyers should weigh current mortgage rates and local property taxes against these figures before committing.
Home prices in Simi Valley run about 6.3× median household income — a stretched ratio that puts real pressure on affordability for local buyers. Home values near Simi Valley rose 1.96% in the past year, a pace most would call steady rather than hot. Simi Valley carries a Relatively High hazard rating from FEMA — elevated risk that's typically reflected in higher insurance premiums.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $2,402/mo in Simi Valley would take 25.7% of your income.
$402/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($704,200) would take 40.2% of your income toward principal & interest.
$1,143/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Simi Valley
Median home value is $704,200 and median gross rent is $2,402/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Ventura rose 1.96% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $2,693/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Simi Valley's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Simi Valley reported a violent crime rate of 136.9 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Simi Valley
Planning a move to Simi Valley? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Simi Valley, CA?
- For a quick read on Simi Valley: homes carry a median value of $704,200, rent runs a median $2,402 monthly, and household income is a median $112,144, all from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Simi Valley?
- Comfortably affording rent in Simi Valley — where the median runs $2,402/month — typically means earning about $96,080 a year, per the standard 30%-of-income benchmark. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Simi Valley.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Simi Valley?
- In Simi Valley, comfortably renting the median unit ($2,402/month) takes about $96,080 in annual income, while buying the median home ($704,200) takes roughly $161,117 a year in principal and interest alone (assumes 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan, and current mortgage rates).
- Is Simi Valley safe?
- Per FBI Crime Data Explorer figures, Simi Valley's violent crime rate was 136.9 per 100,000 residents in 2025.
See the full salary breakdown for Simi Valley →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Simi Valley's.