What is the cost of living in Bell Gardens, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bell Gardens has an overall cost of living index of 138, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Bell Gardens has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Bell Gardens ranks as #215 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Bell Gardens ranks as the #419 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Bell Gardens, check out:
Bell Gardens Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bell Gardens. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Bell Gardens is 112.
The Groceries index in Bell Gardens is 114.
The Health index in Bell Gardens is 198.
The Housing index in Bell Gardens is 114.
The Transportation index in Bell Gardens is 116.
The Utilities index in Bell Gardens is 119.
| Living Expense | Bell Gardens | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 138 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 198 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 114 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 121 | 100 |
Bell Gardens 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 Bell Gardens Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Bell Gardens, 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 Bell Gardens is $690,423.
The Median Rent in Bell Gardens is $1,694.
The Median Income in Bell Gardens is $62,298.
The Home Value To Income in Bell Gardens is 11.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Bell Gardens is 0.33x.
| Statistic | Bell Gardens | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $690,423 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,694 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $62,298 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 11.1x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.33x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Bell Gardens, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Bell Gardens Services costs vs. California
| Item | Bell Gardens | 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 Bell Gardens Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Bell Gardens | 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 Bell Gardens Health costs vs. California
| Item | Bell Gardens | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed Bell Gardens Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Bell Gardens | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Bell Gardens Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Bell Gardens | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
Bell Gardens SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Bell Gardens
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Bell Gardens. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Downey, CA has a cost of living index of 163, 1.2x Bell Gardens.
South Gate, CA has a cost of living index of 145, 1.1x Bell Gardens.
Lakewood, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 1.2x Bell Gardens.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Bell Gardens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downey, CA | 110,939 | 163 | 1.2x |
| South Gate, CA | 91,483 | 145 | 1.1x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 1.2x |
| Lynwood, CA | 64,578 | 144 | 1.0x |
| Huntington Park, CA | 53,108 | 142 | 1.0x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 1.3x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 1.2x |
| Bell, CA | 32,476 | 141 | 1.0x |
| Maywood, CA | 24,317 | 140 | 1.0x |
| West Puente Valley, CA | 22,495 | 148 | 1.1x |
