Anaheim and Chula Vista are both excellent in schools and outdoor activities. The difference is that Anaheim has a high job market while Chula Vista provides diversity and many housing options. But in terms of cost of living, Chula Vista is the best option.
Anaheim in southern California’s Orange County is a terrific area to live, work, and play in because of the city’s bustling tourist sector and commercial community. With its location, it’s no wonder that this city just outside of Los Angeles is gaining so much interest in some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and outstanding amenities.
Meanwhile, Chula Vista, California, which means “beautiful view” in Spanish, is a magnificent area to call home because of its stunning scenery. This vast coastal city has plenty to offer everyone, whether you’re relocating here for school or additional opportunities. There are many reasons why people choose Chula Vista as their home, but improvements are on the way in 2022 that will make it even better.
There is so much to see and do in both cities. However, these locations may not suit your preferences like in any city. This comparison can help you choose the perfect place to stay if you’re thinking about visiting or relocating.
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What Are the Pros and Cons of Anaheim vs. Chula Vista?
The most significant disadvantages of living in Anaheim are the high cost of living and crowds, but you’ll like its activities, dining, schools, and the employment market. Chula Vista, on the other hand, is diverse and family-friendly. It boasts many housing alternatives and excellent educational institutions, but it has a lengthy commute and poor air quality.
Living in Anaheim
Pros
- Family fun activities
- Several dining options
- Exceptional schools
- Job market
Millions of tourists go to Anaheim each year to see the world-famous attractions of Disneyland or California Adventure Park. If you relocate here, the enchanted kingdom is nearby, and you can go here anytime you like.
There are several stores along Main Street, United States of America, and New Orleans Square. The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, located near the castle, offers outfits for all of the park’s tiny princesses.
If you’re looking for a unique collectible, go to the Disney Gallery on Main Street or discover the World of Disney Store in Downtown Disney.
Disneyland and California Adventure feature fantastic live entertainment, including singing, dancing, and audience involvement. If you don’t enjoy rides, you could comfortably spend an entire day simply watching the shows.
About 250 times a year, Disneyland has fireworks, and they’re some of the greatest you’ll ever see. Plus, they’re not just beautiful, but they tell a tale as well, thanks to some incredible projection effects.
The restaurants in Anaheim reflect the diversity of the city’s visitors. You can discover a wide variety of cuisines from all around the globe in the city. Guests visiting Disneyland will, of course, be able to sample a wide variety of fried foods.
In addition, you will also enjoy food carts and trucks around the city.
Sweet Hawaiian BBQ delicacies include teriyaki short ribs, potato salad, kalua pork, coleslaw, and more at Matiki Island Barbeque. All of the recipes are served with rice or salad as a side dish. Come in for a taste of Hawaii.
Aji Limo, a Peruvian restaurant, gives you fresh, tasty, and genuine Peruvian cuisine guaranteed to impress. Their extensive menu features a broad range of meats, fish, and vegetarian options. Even picky eaters will find something to their liking on the menu.
If you’re looking for authentic Peruvian cuisine, this is the place to go.
The city has Anaheim High School District and a distinct primary school district for younger students. In terms of academic performance, both districts outperform the national average.
Nearby institutions like Chapman University and California State University, Fullerton, provide two-year degrees and practical training.
Numerous options for conventional and alternative education are available in the greater Los Angeles region, of which Anaheim is a component.
According to The Orange County Register’s research, the St. Louis Fed’s regional economic indices put Los Angeles-Orange County as the 6th best-combined economy in the United States. With a yearly growth rate of 4.5% in 2019, the greatest in four years, the industry captured the top spot.
Anaheim’s unemployment rate was under 2.4% as of December 2019. As a point of reference, the current unemployment rate in California is roughly 4%. Tourism, retail commerce, manufacturing, and health care are among the most critical industries in the city.
Anaheim’s top employers include the Walt Disney Company, UC Irvine, St. Joseph Health, Kaiser Albertsons, Permanente, and Walmart. The city’s leading employer is the Walt Disney Company.
Cons
- Overcrowding and its impacts
- High cost of living
Orange County has almost 3 million people, with a higher demand for resources in Anaheim’s core business area.
Because of overcrowding, the city and the County have a significant impact on traffic flow. Additionally, the city’s dependence on autos and closeness to Los Angeles worsens the city’s traffic issues.
The most congested area is in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim. You will undoubtedly face traffic delays as a commuter.
The cost of living in Anaheim is high. There is a 148.5% difference between Anaheim’s costs and the national average.
When you reside in this city, housing is probably the most significant monthly expenditure you’ll have to deal with. The typical house in this area is worth roughly $762,700, and it can go up to million dollars due to the competitive market.
Living in Chula Vista
Pros
- High-quality educational institutions
- Incredibly diverse
- Multitude housing options
- Family-friendly ambiance
Schools in Chula Vista are often regarded as among the best in the country. A total of 44 elementary schools in Chula Vista and a high school serving students in grades 7-12 are part of the Chula Vista Elementary School District.
Primary schools with 10/10 ratings on greatschools.org include Salt Creek, Arroyo Vista Charter, and Parkview Elementary Schools. Eastlake High School (9/10), Olympian High School (9/10), and Otay Ranch Senior High School (8/10) are the finest secondary schools in the area.
Chula Vista is home to a large and vibrant Hispanic community to add to its already diversified culture. Nearly half of the population is White Hispanic, while non-Hispanic whites, Asians, and black Americans make up the rest.
Chula Vista has a wide range of housing options, including single-family houses, condominiums, and apartments. The historic city center has housing options, but planned neighborhoods such as Eastlake, San Miguel Ranch, Otay Ranch, and Rolling Hills Ranch.
Many established neighborhoods in Chula Vista include historic houses, tree-lined avenues, and big yards. Even though Chula Vista is a vast city, many claim this contributes to the small-town atmosphere.
Schools and downtown Chula Vista are within walking distance of many single-family and multi-family residences. There are many energy-efficient properties on the market in the city and houses with solar panels. The municipal government offers a program named “Home Upgrade, Carbon Downgrade” to encourage initiatives to minimize carbon emissions, boost the local economy, and save energy.
Most communities are close to the I-5, I-805, and SR 125 freeways, making traveling to work or visiting other parts of San Diego a breeze.
Everyone who has spoken about Chula Vista praises the city’s family-friendly ambiance as one of the most excellent aspects of living here. There are 56 parks and a lot of green space in the area. Also, there are bike and walking routes and farmer’s markets to explore.
Every year, the CiclaVista festival opens the streets to everything except vehicles. It enables individuals to stroll, roller skate, cycle, or skateboard along the roadway. While the festival here includes music, shopping, cuisine, and children’s activities.
Cons
- Long travel distances
- Air quality issues
In the United States, a one-way commute takes an average of 26.4 minutes. In Chula Vista, however, the average commuting time is 30.9 minutes. According to Smart Asset statistics, Chula Vista has the 19th worst commute time of any city in the United States.
Plan to devote some time behind the wheel if you’re relocating here and traveling to work elsewhere in San Diego County.
San Diego County, where Chula Vista is situated, has some of the worst levels of ozone pollution in the country, resulting in below-average air quality. Additionally, days with high amounts of particles are standard in the region. Both forms of air pollution can cause various respiratory and cardiovascular problems, such as asthma, strokes, and heart attacks.
Anaheim or Chula Vista – Which Is More Expensive?
Based on the overall cost of living excluding taxes, Anaheim is 3.0% more expensive than Chula Vista. The most significant factor in the cost of living difference is the median home cost. The median home cost is 9% higher in Anaheim.
The table below shows you the cost-of-living indices written in percentage:
| Living expenses | Anaheim | Chula Vista |
| Housing | 257.1% | 232.8% |
| Food & Groceries | 102.5% | 108.0% |
| Health | 93.4% | 89% |
| Utilities | 97.4% | 102.8% |
| Transportation | 118% | 127.9% |
Data is 100 = US National Average
> 100 means more expensive than the national average
< 100 means cheaper than the national average
Housing Cost
Anaheim’s cost of housing is 10.4% higher than in Chula Vista. Anaheim’s median home cost is $762,700, whereas Chula Vista has only $694,500.
Utility Cost
Anaheim’s cost of utilities is 5.3% cheaper than in Chula Vista. The 1-minute prepaid mobile local tariff without discounts or plans costs only $0.22 per month in Anaheim, whereas $0.37 in Chula Vista.
Food and Groceries Cost
The cost of food and groceries in Anaheim is 5.1% less expensive than in Chula Vista. For example, the current market price of white rice in Chula Vista is $6.61 per kilogram, whereas it is only $6.06 in Anaheim.
Transportation Cost
Anaheim’s transportation cost is 7.7% less expensive than in Chula Vista. For example, purchasing a one-way ticket of local transport in Anaheim will cost you $2.00 only, whereas, in Chula Vista, that is $5.00.
Healthcare Cost
Anaheim’s healthcare cost is 7.8% higher than in Chula Vista. If you visit a dentist in Chula Vista, you will only spend $107.18, whereas, in Anaheim, that is $114.52.
Is Anaheim Bigger Than Chula Vista?
Based on the 2020 Census, Anaheim is 18.28% bigger than Chula. However, Chula Vista has 1.9% more land spaces than Anaheim.
Located in Orange County, California, Anaheim is a major city. It has a population of 349,366, making it the 10th-largest city in California and 56th in the United States in 2020. When it comes to growth, Anaheim had an annual decline of -0.10% while its population had climbed by 3.90% since the last census in 2010.
Anaheim’s population density per square mile is 6,943 persons per square mile despite its length of almost 51 miles. Thus, Anaheim is the County’s 2nd-largest city based on land area.
Conversely, Chula Vista is a Californian city in San Diego County. With 285,511 residents, it was the 15th most populous city in California and 72nd in the United States in 2020. At a pace of 1.30% per year, the city’s population has grown by 17.05% since the 2010 Census.
At 5,752 persons per square mile, Chula Vista’s population spreads across 52 miles.
Is Anaheim Safer Than Chula Vista?
Anaheim has an annual crime rate of 29.18 per 1,000 residents, whereas Chula Vista has a modest record of 15.53. Thus, Chula Vista is safer than Anaheim.
According to yearly crime statistics, crime in Anaheim is 1% more than in California as a whole and 8% higher than the national average. The city has a violent crime rate of 21% lower than the California average and 10% lower than the national average. It has a property crime rate that is 5% higher than the state average and 11% higher than the national average.
Meanwhile, based on the crime data, Chula Vista is safer than 60% of cities in California and 42% of places nationwide. The city’s overall quantity of daily crime is 1.72 times lower than the state average and 1.56 times lower than the national average.
Is Anaheim Colder Than Chula Vista?
Chula Vista’s typical temperature throughout the year is 48°F to 78°F, whereas Anaheim has 46°F to 85°F. Thus, Chula Vista is colder than Anaheim.
Just seven evenings a year in Anaheim have temperatures fall below 40°F. Declining temperatures are most common in December, but they can occur at any time between November and March. Despite this, the temperature seldom descends below freezing, even on the coldest nights.
You can expect at least 50°F most days in the vacation city. During December through February, just six days out of every year, temperatures can fall below 60 degrees.
Meanwhile, the winters in Chula Vista are lengthy, chilly, and partly overcast. Temperatures typically range from 48°F to 78°F throughout the year, with temperatures seldom falling below 42°F or rising over 84°F.
From November 29 to April 6, the chilly season lasts 4.2 months in the city, with a typical daily high temperature of less than 67°F. December is the coldest month in Chula Vista, with an average low of 49°F and a high of 65°F.
Is Anaheim Better Than Chula Vista?
On the livability scale, Chula Vista scored 67 out of 100, while Anaheim obtained 62. Thus, Chula Vista is a better place to live than Anaheim.
If you’re in Anaheim, you’ll be able to take advantage of a variety of fantastic local attractions and activities. Based on the livability score, Anaheim ranks 47th among all American cities and has an A+ grade for its weather. Because of its near-perfect weather, Anaheim is a favorite location for conference guests, family fun activities, and youth sports events.
Meanwhile, Chula Vista earned a 67/100 livability score based on data and statistics. The city receives an A+ for amenities, a B+ for crime, and an A for the weather. Chula Vista, in general, is a great place to live in California, so it is safe to say that Chula Vista is the best option in the state when you think about relocation.
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