What is the cost of living in Costa Mesa, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Costa Mesa has an overall cost of living index of 198, which is 2.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Costa Mesa has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Costa Mesa ranks as #518 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Costa Mesa ranks as the #116 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Costa Mesa, check out:
Costa Mesa Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Costa Mesa. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Costa Mesa is 114.
The Groceries index in Costa Mesa is 120.
The Health index in Costa Mesa is 381.
The Housing index in Costa Mesa is 121.
The Transportation index in Costa Mesa is 124.
The Utilities index in Costa Mesa is 121.
| Living Expense | Costa Mesa | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 198 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 114 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 120 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 381 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 124 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 121 | 121 | 100 |
Costa Mesa 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 Costa Mesa Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Costa Mesa, 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 Costa Mesa is $1,413,322.
The Median Rent in Costa Mesa is $2,446.
The Median Income in Costa Mesa is $111,505.
The Home Value To Income in Costa Mesa is 12.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Costa Mesa is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Costa Mesa | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,413,322 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,446 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $111,505 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 12.7x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Costa Mesa, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Costa Mesa Services costs vs. California
| Item | Costa Mesa | 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 Costa Mesa Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Costa Mesa | 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 Costa Mesa Health costs vs. California
| Item | Costa Mesa | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Costa Mesa Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Costa Mesa | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Costa Mesa Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Costa Mesa | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Costa Mesa SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Costa Mesa
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Costa Mesa. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Santa Ana, CA has a cost of living index of 161, 0.8x Costa Mesa.
Irvine, CA has a cost of living index of 209, 1.1x Costa Mesa.
Huntington Beach, CA has a cost of living index of 194, 1.0x Costa Mesa.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Costa Mesa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana, CA | 312,534 | 161 | 0.8x |
| Irvine, CA | 311,690 | 209 | 1.1x |
| Huntington Beach, CA | 195,240 | 194 | 1.0x |
| Garden Grove, CA | 170,964 | 167 | 0.8x |
| Orange, CA | 138,266 | 176 | 0.9x |
| Mission Viejo, CA | 92,151 | 190 | 1.0x |
| Westminster, CA | 89,860 | 171 | 0.9x |
| Lake Forest, CA | 86,281 | 182 | 0.9x |
| Newport Beach, CA | 83,845 | 337 | 1.7x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 0.8x |
