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 208, which is 2.1x 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 142.
The standard of living in Dana Point ranks as #542 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Dana Point ranks as the #92 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Dana Point, check out:
Dana Point Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Dana Point. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Dana Point is 109.
The Groceries index in Dana Point is 113.
The Health index in Dana Point is 423.
The Housing index in Dana Point is 114.
The Transportation index in Dana Point is 120.
The Utilities index in Dana Point is 120.
| Living Expense | Dana Point | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 208 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 423 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 114 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 120 | 121 | 100 |
Dana Point 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 Dana Point Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Dana Point is $1,736,392.
The Median Rent in Dana Point is $3,106.
The Median Income in Dana Point is $141,520.
The Home Value To Income in Dana Point is 12.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Dana Point is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Dana Point | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,736,392 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,106 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $141,520 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 12.3x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
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
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 209, 1.0x Dana Point.
Mission Viejo, CA has a cost of living index of 190, 0.9x Dana Point.
Lake Forest, CA has a cost of living index of 182, 0.9x Dana Point.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Dana Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irvine, CA | 311,690 | 209 | 1.0x |
| Mission Viejo, CA | 92,151 | 190 | 0.9x |
| Lake Forest, CA | 86,281 | 182 | 0.9x |
| Tustin, CA | 78,981 | 181 | 0.9x |
| Laguna Niguel, CA | 64,139 | 204 | 1.0x |
| San Clemente, CA | 63,273 | 206 | 1.0x |
| Aliso Viejo, CA | 51,113 | 175 | 0.8x |
| Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | 46,990 | 179 | 0.9x |
| San Juan Capistrano, CA | 35,095 | 184 | 0.9x |
| Laguna Hills, CA | 30,740 | 190 | 0.9x |
