What is the cost of living in Big Bear Lake, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Big Bear Lake has an overall cost of living index of 141, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Big Bear Lake has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Big Bear Lake ranks as #245 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Big Bear Lake ranks as the #389 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Big Bear Lake, check out:
Big Bear Lake Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Big Bear Lake. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Big Bear Lake is 112.
The Groceries index in Big Bear Lake is 111.
The Health index in Big Bear Lake is 189.
The Housing index in Big Bear Lake is 122.
The Transportation index in Big Bear Lake is 123.
The Utilities index in Big Bear Lake is 115.
| Living Expense | Big Bear Lake | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 141 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 189 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 122 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 123 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 121 | 100 |
Big Bear Lake 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 Big Bear Lake Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Big Bear Lake, 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 Big Bear Lake is $551,706.
The Median Rent in Big Bear Lake is $1,454.
The Median Income in Big Bear Lake is $76,250.
The Home Value To Income in Big Bear Lake is 7.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Big Bear Lake is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Big Bear Lake | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $551,706 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,454 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $76,250 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.2x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Big Bear Lake, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Big Bear Lake Services costs vs. California
| Item | Big Bear Lake | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.34 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.04 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.11 | $18 |
| Haircut | $27.27 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $41.78 | $45.56 |
Detailed Big Bear Lake Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Big Bear Lake | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.89 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.49 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.92 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.92 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.31 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.26 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed Big Bear Lake Health costs vs. California
| Item | Big Bear Lake | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Big Bear Lake Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Big Bear Lake | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Big Bear Lake Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Big Bear Lake | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Big Bear Lake SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Big Bear Lake
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Big Bear Lake. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Highland, CA has a cost of living index of 133, 0.9x Big Bear Lake.
Yucaipa, CA has a cost of living index of 136, 1.0x Big Bear Lake.
Calimesa, CA has a cost of living index of 124, 0.9x Big Bear Lake.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Big Bear Lake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland, CA | 56,675 | 133 | 0.9x |
| Yucaipa, CA | 54,421 | 136 | 1.0x |
| Calimesa, CA | 10,902 | 124 | 0.9x |
| Lake Arrowhead, CA | 10,639 | 135 | 1.0x |
| Mentone, CA | 9,514 | 128 | 0.9x |
| Cherry Valley, CA | 6,668 | 126 | 0.9x |
| Lucerne Valley, CA | 5,957 | 109 | 0.8x |
