Dana Point, CA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Dana Point, CA Summary

Cost of living in Dana Point research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Dana Point is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in California, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Dana Point is 205, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Dana Point is 2.0x higher than the national average.

  • Dana Point ranks as the #538 cheapest in California out of 634.

  • Dana Point ranks as the #6,338 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Dana Point is $1,653,005.

  • The median income in Dana Point is $127,246.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
205
Dana Point's Overall Cost Of Living
2.0x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Dana Point, CA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Dana Point has an overall cost of living index of 205, which is 2.0x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to California, Dana Point has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than California's index of 141.

The standard of living in Dana Point ranks as #538 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Dana Point ranks as the #96 most expensive place in the Golden State.

For more reading on life in Dana Point, check out:

538 out of 634
In California
6,338 out of 6,489
In America

Dana Point Cost Of Living Vs. California

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Dana Point. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Dana Point is 111.

  • The Groceries index in Dana Point is 113.

  • The Health index in Dana Point is 101.

  • The Housing index in Dana Point is 418.

  • The Transportation index in Dana Point is 126.

  • The Utilities index in Dana Point is 95.

Living Expense Dana Point California National Average
Overall 205 141 100
Services 111 110 100
Groceries 113 112 100
Health 101 110 100
Housing 418 195 100
Transportation 126 125 100
Utilities 95 128 100
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Dana Point Cost of Living Vs. CA

Dana Point, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Dana Point is $1,653,005.

  • The Median Rent in Dana Point is $2,883.

  • The Median Income in Dana Point is $127,246.

  • The Home Value To Income in Dana Point is 13.0x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Dana Point is 0.27x.

Statistic Dana Point California United States
Median Home Value $1,653,005 $763,287 $303,400
Median Rent $2,883 $1,956 $1,348
Median Income $127,246 $96,334 $78,538
Home Value To Income 13.0x 7.9x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.27x 0.24x 0.21x
$1,653,005
Median Home Value
$2,883
Median Rent
$127,246
Median Income

Dana Point, CA Costs By Category

Detailed Dana Point Services Costs Vs. California

Item Dana Point 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 Dana Point Groceries Costs Vs. California

Item Dana Point 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 Dana Point Health Costs Vs. California

Item Dana Point California
Optometrist $112.92 $125.68
Doctor $95.5 $135.78
Dentist $117.28 $113.29

Detailed Dana Point Transportation Costs Vs. California

Item Dana Point California
Gasoline $4.75 $3.46
Tire Balancing $61.38 $59.92

Detailed Dana Point Utilities Costs Vs. California

Item Dana Point California
All Electricity $378.97 $193.99
Phone $180.31 $192.25

Dana Point SnackAbility

9.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
10
Affordability
3
Diversity
8
Safety
8
Amenities
9.5
Education
9
Commute
6

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Dana Point

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Dana Point. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Irvine, CA has a cost of living index of 198, 1.0x Dana Point.

  • Mission Viejo, CA has a cost of living index of 184, 0.9x Dana Point.

  • Lake Forest, CA has a cost of living index of 175, 0.9x Dana Point.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Dana Point
Irvine, CA 308,160 198 1.0x
Mission Viejo, CA 92,415 184 0.9x
Lake Forest, CA 85,846 175 0.9x
Tustin, CA 79,035 176 0.9x
Laguna Niguel, CA 64,023 197 1.0x
San Clemente, CA 63,510 203 1.0x
Aliso Viejo, CA 51,320 174 0.8x
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 47,257 176 0.9x
San Juan Capistrano, CA 34,998 183 0.9x
Laguna Hills, CA 30,921 184 0.9x

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