City Comparison

Antioch vs Arlington

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Antioch

California
147
Expensive
$610,000
Median Home
$2,250/mo
Median Rent
$97,500
Median Income

Arlington

Virginia
164
Very Expensive
$740,000
Median Home
$2,350/mo
Median Rent
$145,000
Median Income

The Verdict

10.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 10.4%, with Antioch being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Antioch has equivalent purchasing power to $83,673 in Arlington.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
193
Antioch
249
Arlington
Groceries
107
Antioch
106
Arlington
Utilities
156
Antioch
102
Arlington
Transportation
140
Antioch
107
Arlington
Healthcare
122
Antioch
117
Arlington

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Antioch has the same purchasing power as $83,673 in Arlington.

Conversely, $75,000 in Arlington equals $67,226 in Antioch.

Living in Antioch vs Arlington

Housing Costs

Antioch's housing index of 193 is lower Arlington's 249, translating to median home prices of $610,000 vs $740,000. The $130,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,448 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,250/mo in Antioch compared to $2,350/mo in Arlington, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 107 in Antioch and 106 in Arlington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Antioch vs $504/month in Arlington. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 156 in Antioch and 102 in Arlington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $624 in Antioch vs $408 in Arlington. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 122 in Antioch and 117 in Arlington. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $97,500 in Antioch and $145,000 in Arlington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $66,327 and $88,415 respectively. Arlington residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,275/month to housing in Antioch vs $3,383/month in Arlington. In Antioch, median rent of $2,250/mo fits within this budget. In Arlington, median rent of $2,350/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 56 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Antioch is 10.4% more affordable overall with an index of 147 vs 164.
A $75,000 salary in Antioch has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $83,673 in Arlington, based on the cost of living difference.
Antioch's housing index is 193 with median homes at $610,000, while Arlington's is 249 with median homes at $740,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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