What is the cost of living in Downey, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Downey has an overall cost of living index of 163, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Downey has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Downey ranks as #384 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Downey ranks as the #250 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Downey, check out:
Downey Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Downey. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Downey is 115.
The Groceries index in Downey is 116.
The Health index in Downey is 269.
The Housing index in Downey is 124.
The Transportation index in Downey is 125.
The Utilities index in Downey is 119.
| Living Expense | Downey | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 163 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 115 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 269 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 124 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 125 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 121 | 100 |
Downey 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 Downey Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Downey, 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 Downey is $888,710.
The Median Rent in Downey is $1,937.
The Median Income in Downey is $90,699.
The Home Value To Income in Downey is 9.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Downey is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Downey | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $888,710 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,937 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $90,699 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.8x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Downey, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Downey Services costs vs. California
| Item | Downey | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.41 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.46 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.07 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $49.33 | $45.56 |
Detailed Downey Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Downey | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.26 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.08 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $16.13 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.6 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.76 | $3.7 |
Detailed Downey Health costs vs. California
| Item | Downey | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed Downey Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Downey | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Downey Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Downey | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
Downey SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Downey
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Downey. 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, 0.9x Downey.
South Gate, CA has a cost of living index of 145, 0.9x Downey.
Lakewood, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 1.0x Downey.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Downey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwalk, CA | 99,789 | 151 | 0.9x |
| South Gate, CA | 91,483 | 145 | 0.9x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 1.0x |
| Bellflower, CA | 76,819 | 151 | 0.9x |
| Lynwood, CA | 64,578 | 144 | 0.9x |
| Paramount, CA | 52,050 | 140 | 0.9x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 1.1x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 1.0x |
| Bell Gardens, CA | 38,229 | 138 | 0.8x |
| Bell, CA | 32,476 | 141 | 0.9x |
