What is the cost of living in Cerritos, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Cerritos has an overall cost of living index of 185, which is 1.9x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Cerritos has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Cerritos ranks as #483 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Cerritos ranks as the #151 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Cerritos, check out:
Cerritos Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Cerritos. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Cerritos is 110.
The Groceries index in Cerritos is 111.
The Health index in Cerritos is 354.
The Housing index in Cerritos is 119.
The Transportation index in Cerritos is 114.
The Utilities index in Cerritos is 121.
| Living Expense | Cerritos | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 185 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 354 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 119 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 114 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 121 | 121 | 100 |
Cerritos 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 Cerritos Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Cerritos, 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 Cerritos is $1,094,900.
The Median Rent in Cerritos is $2,930.
The Median Income in Cerritos is $135,439.
The Home Value To Income in Cerritos is 8.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Cerritos is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Cerritos | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,094,900 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,930 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $135,439 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.1x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Cerritos, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Cerritos Services costs vs. California
| Item | Cerritos | 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 Cerritos Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Cerritos | 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 Cerritos Health costs vs. California
| Item | Cerritos | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Cerritos Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Cerritos | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Cerritos Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Cerritos | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Cerritos SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Cerritos
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Cerritos. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Norwalk, CA has a cost of living index of 151, 0.8x Cerritos.
Buena Park, CA has a cost of living index of 168, 0.9x Cerritos.
Lakewood, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 0.9x Cerritos.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Cerritos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwalk, CA | 99,789 | 151 | 0.8x |
| Buena Park, CA | 82,871 | 168 | 0.9x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 0.9x |
| Bellflower, CA | 76,819 | 151 | 0.8x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 1.0x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 0.9x |
| North Tustin, CA | 25,807 | 212 | 1.1x |
| West Puente Valley, CA | 22,495 | 148 | 0.8x |
| Santa Fe Springs, CA | 18,871 | 152 | 0.8x |
| Artesia, CA | 15,889 | 167 | 0.9x |
