What is the cost of living in Brea, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Brea has an overall cost of living index of 177, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Brea has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Brea ranks as #458 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Brea ranks as the #176 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Brea, check out:
Brea Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Brea. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Brea is 109.
The Groceries index in Brea is 112.
The Health index in Brea is 332.
The Housing index in Brea is 118.
The Transportation index in Brea is 116.
The Utilities index in Brea is 113.
| Living Expense | Brea | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 177 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 332 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 121 | 100 |
Brea 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 Brea Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Brea, 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 Brea is $1,140,405.
The Median Rent in Brea is $2,397.
The Median Income in Brea is $131,129.
The Home Value To Income in Brea is 8.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Brea is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Brea | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,140,405 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,397 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $131,129 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.7x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Brea, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Brea Services costs vs. California
| Item | Brea | 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 Brea Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Brea | 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 Brea Health costs vs. California
| Item | Brea | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Brea Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Brea | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Brea Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Brea | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Brea SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Brea
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Brea. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Fullerton, CA has a cost of living index of 177, 1.0x Brea.
Lakewood, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 0.9x Brea.
Yorba Linda, CA has a cost of living index of 203, 1.1x Brea.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Brea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fullerton, CA | 140,968 | 177 | 1.0x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 0.9x |
| Yorba Linda, CA | 67,170 | 203 | 1.1x |
| La Habra, CA | 61,970 | 167 | 0.9x |
| Diamond Bar, CA | 53,355 | 184 | 1.0x |
| Placentia, CA | 52,826 | 173 | 1.0x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 1.0x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 0.9x |
| Rowland Heights, CA | 45,911 | 174 | 1.0x |
| Walnut, CA | 27,611 | 199 | 1.1x |
