2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Riverside, CA vs Monterey, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Monterey or is it cheaper to live in Riverside?
- Monterey is 15.8% more expensive than Riverside.

Which city has more affordable housing, Monterey or Riverside?
- Monterey housing costs are 87.8% more expensive than Riverside housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Riverside or is Health Care more affordable in Monterey.
- Health related expenses are 64.6% more in Monterey.
 Riverside, CAMonterey, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock151.9100
 Food & Groceries100.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock143.7100
 Housing177.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,022,100$338,100
 Utilities106  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock92.1100
 Miscellaneous112.3  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Riverside    42 Reviews

I've lived in Riverside for 54 years. It changed a LOT when people from LA started moving here in droves. Still, I have never been robbed or assaulted but I am  More

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I'm from Orange County (OC). I have had nothing but trouble since moving to Riverside. 1. The dogs are aggressive guard dogs. If you want to walk or bike you  More

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Over 7 years ago

Whew where to begin with dear old riverside. I enjoyed growing up here until my high school years (back in 2011). In 7 short years the downward deterioration of the  More

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Reviews for Monterey    21 Reviews

Over 8 years ago

The Monterey city area is an excellent place to live and one of the few California locales where it's relatively safe to raise a family. If I could no longer live here I  More

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I grew up on the Monterey Peninsula and had to leave to climb out of poverty. The median income is $35,000 and outside of the military, the jobs are mostly service  More

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My husband and I are just crazy about Monterey. I wonder if we take housing expenses (mortgage or rent) out of the picture, is Monterey still a very expensive city to  More

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