What is the cost of living in Alhambra, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Alhambra has an overall cost of living index of 170, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Alhambra has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Alhambra ranks as #421 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Alhambra ranks as the #213 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Alhambra, check out:
Alhambra Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Alhambra. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Alhambra is 111.
The Groceries index in Alhambra is 121.
The Health index in Alhambra is 288.
The Housing index in Alhambra is 117.
The Transportation index in Alhambra is 116.
The Utilities index in Alhambra is 120.
| Living Expense | Alhambra | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 170 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 121 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 288 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 120 | 121 | 100 |
Alhambra Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Alhambra Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Alhambra, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Alhambra is $937,892.
The Median Rent in Alhambra is $1,939.
The Median Income in Alhambra is $88,024.
The Home Value To Income in Alhambra is 10.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Alhambra is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Alhambra | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $937,892 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,939 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $88,024 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.7x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Alhambra, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Alhambra Services costs vs. California
| Item | Alhambra | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.41 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.46 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.07 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $49.33 | $45.56 |
Detailed Alhambra Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Alhambra | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.26 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.08 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $16.13 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.6 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.76 | $3.7 |
Detailed Alhambra Health costs vs. California
| Item | Alhambra | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed Alhambra Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Alhambra | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Alhambra Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Alhambra | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
Alhambra SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Alhambra
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Alhambra. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
East Los Angeles, CA has a cost of living index of 146, 0.9x Alhambra.
Lakewood, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 1.0x Alhambra.
Monterey Park, CA has a cost of living index of 171, 1.0x Alhambra.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Alhambra |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Los Angeles, CA | 111,647 | 146 | 0.9x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 1.0x |
| Monterey Park, CA | 59,132 | 171 | 1.0x |
| Rosemead, CA | 50,013 | 162 | 1.0x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 1.0x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 1.0x |
| San Gabriel, CA | 38,392 | 175 | 1.0x |
| South Pasadena, CA | 26,068 | 229 | 1.3x |
| East San Gabriel, CA | 23,410 | 187 | 1.1x |
| West Puente Valley, CA | 22,495 | 148 | 0.9x |
