What is the cost of living in East Los Angeles, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, East Los Angeles has an overall cost of living index of 146, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, East Los Angeles has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in East Los Angeles ranks as #275 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies East Los Angeles ranks as the #359 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in East Los Angeles, check out:
East Los Angeles Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in East Los Angeles. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in East Los Angeles is 114.
The Groceries index in East Los Angeles is 120.
The Health index in East Los Angeles is 209.
The Housing index in East Los Angeles is 121.
The Transportation index in East Los Angeles is 118.
The Utilities index in East Los Angeles is 117.
| Living Expense | East Los Angeles | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 146 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 114 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 120 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 209 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 117 | 121 | 100 |
East Los Angeles 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 East Los Angeles Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
East Los Angeles, 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 East Los Angeles is $675,165.
The Median Rent in East Los Angeles is $1,494.
The Median Income in East Los Angeles is $68,741.
The Home Value To Income in East Los Angeles is 9.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in East Los Angeles is 0.26x.
| Statistic | East Los Angeles | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $675,165 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,494 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $68,741 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.8x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
East Los Angeles, CA Costs By Category
Detailed East Los Angeles Services costs vs. California
| Item | East Los Angeles | 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 East Los Angeles Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | East Los Angeles | 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 East Los Angeles Health costs vs. California
| Item | East Los Angeles | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed East Los Angeles Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | East Los Angeles | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed East Los Angeles Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | East Los Angeles | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
East Los Angeles SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around East Los Angeles
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around East Los Angeles. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Alhambra, CA has a cost of living index of 170, 1.2x East Los Angeles.
Lakewood, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 1.1x East Los Angeles.
Montebello, CA has a cost of living index of 156, 1.1x East Los Angeles.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. East Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alhambra, CA | 81,022 | 170 | 1.2x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 1.1x |
| Montebello, CA | 61,045 | 156 | 1.1x |
| Monterey Park, CA | 59,132 | 171 | 1.2x |
| Huntington Park, CA | 53,108 | 142 | 1.0x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 1.2x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 1.1x |
| Bell Gardens, CA | 38,229 | 138 | 0.9x |
| Bell, CA | 32,476 | 141 | 1.0x |
| Maywood, CA | 24,317 | 140 | 1.0x |
