What is the cost of living in Chula Vista, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Chula Vista has an overall cost of living index of 161, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Chula Vista has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Chula Vista ranks as #373 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Chula Vista ranks as the #261 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Chula Vista, check out:
Chula Vista Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Chula Vista. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Chula Vista is 114.
The Groceries index in Chula Vista is 119.
The Health index in Chula Vista is 250.
The Housing index in Chula Vista is 122.
The Transportation index in Chula Vista is 120.
The Utilities index in Chula Vista is 122.
| Living Expense | Chula Vista | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 161 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 114 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 119 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 250 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 122 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 122 | 121 | 100 |
Chula Vista 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 Chula Vista Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Chula Vista, 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 Chula Vista is $846,371.
The Median Rent in Chula Vista is $2,229.
The Median Income in Chula Vista is $108,032.
The Home Value To Income in Chula Vista is 7.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Chula Vista is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Chula Vista | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $846,371 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,229 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $108,032 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.8x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Chula Vista, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Chula Vista Services costs vs. California
| Item | Chula Vista | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.5 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.89 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.92 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.77 | $45.56 |
Detailed Chula Vista Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Chula Vista | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.05 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.98 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.25 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed Chula Vista Health costs vs. California
| Item | Chula Vista | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $138.66 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $132.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $121.37 | $113.29 |
Detailed Chula Vista Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Chula Vista | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.68 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.4 | $59.92 |
Detailed Chula Vista Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Chula Vista | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.42 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Chula Vista SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Chula Vista
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Chula Vista. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
San Diego, CA has a cost of living index of 175, 1.1x Chula Vista.
La Mesa, CA has a cost of living index of 161, 1.0x Chula Vista.
Santee, CA has a cost of living index of 155, 1.0x Chula Vista.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Chula Vista |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | 1,389,526 | 175 | 1.1x |
| La Mesa, CA | 60,797 | 161 | 1.0x |
| Santee, CA | 59,332 | 155 | 1.0x |
| La Presa, CA | 34,962 | 145 | 0.9x |
| Lemon Grove, CA | 27,686 | 145 | 0.9x |
| Imperial Beach, CA | 25,764 | 168 | 1.0x |
| Winter Gardens, CA | 22,131 | 149 | 0.9x |
| Rancho San Diego, CA | 21,272 | 172 | 1.1x |
| Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, CA | 19,765 | 171 | 1.1x |
| Coronado, CA | 19,015 | 300 | 1.9x |
