Encinitas, CA Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Encinitas, CA Summary

Cost of living in Encinitas 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 Encinitas 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 Encinitas is 214, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Encinitas is 2.1x higher than the national average.

  • Encinitas ranks as the #553 cheapest in California out of 634.

  • Encinitas ranks as the #6,370 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Encinitas is $1,839,650.

  • The median income in Encinitas is $150,471.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
214
Encinitas's Overall Cost Of Living
2.1x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Encinitas, CA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Encinitas has an overall cost of living index of 214, which is 2.1x higher than the national index of 100.

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

The standard of living in Encinitas ranks as #553 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Encinitas ranks as the #81 most expensive place in the Golden State.

For more reading on life in Encinitas, check out:

553 out of 634
In California
6,370 out of 6,489
In America

Encinitas Cost Of Living Vs. California

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

  • The Services index in Encinitas is 111.

  • The Groceries index in Encinitas is 118.

  • The Health index in Encinitas is 104.

  • The Housing index in Encinitas is 443.

  • The Transportation index in Encinitas is 127.

  • The Utilities index in Encinitas is 107.

Living Expense Encinitas California National Average
Overall 214 141 100
Services 111 110 100
Groceries 118 112 100
Health 104 110 100
Housing 443 195 100
Transportation 127 125 100
Utilities 107 128 100
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Encinitas Cost of Living Vs. CA

Encinitas, 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 Encinitas is $1,839,650.

  • The Median Rent in Encinitas is $2,730.

  • The Median Income in Encinitas is $150,471.

  • The Home Value To Income in Encinitas is 12.2x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Encinitas is 0.22x.

Statistic Encinitas California United States
Median Home Value $1,839,650 $763,287 $303,400
Median Rent $2,730 $1,956 $1,348
Median Income $150,471 $96,334 $78,538
Home Value To Income 12.2x 7.9x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.22x 0.24x 0.21x
$1,839,650
Median Home Value
$2,730
Median Rent
$150,471
Median Income

Encinitas, CA Costs By Category

Detailed Encinitas Services Costs Vs. California

Item Encinitas California
Shampoo $1.5 $1.28
Movie $16.89 $12.13
Bowling $24.67 $18
Haircut $26.92 $24.26
Beauty Salon $65.77 $45.56

Detailed Encinitas Groceries Costs Vs. California

Item Encinitas California
Ground Beef $5.47 $5.84
Fried Chicken $3.05 $1.57
Milk $4.98 $4.67
Potatoes $4.94 $4.93
Pizza $14.69 $12.09
Beer $11.25 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.73 $3.7

Detailed Encinitas Health Costs Vs. California

Item Encinitas California
Optometrist $138.66 $125.68
Doctor $132.5 $135.78
Dentist $121.37 $113.29

Detailed Encinitas Transportation Costs Vs. California

Item Encinitas California
Gasoline $4.68 $3.46
Tire Balancing $64.4 $59.92

Detailed Encinitas Utilities Costs Vs. California

Item Encinitas California
All Electricity $223.42 $193.99
Phone $180.31 $192.25

Encinitas SnackAbility

9
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
10
Affordability
4
Diversity
8
Safety
8
Amenities
9.5
Education
9
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Encinitas

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

  • San Diego, CA has a cost of living index of 170, 0.8x Encinitas.

  • Oceanside, CA has a cost of living index of 156, 0.7x Encinitas.

  • Escondido, CA has a cost of living index of 149, 0.7x Encinitas.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Encinitas
San Diego, CA 1,385,061 170 0.8x
Oceanside, CA 172,542 156 0.7x
Escondido, CA 149,913 149 0.7x
Carlsbad, CA 114,500 195 0.9x
Vista, CA 98,646 154 0.7x
San Marcos, CA 94,078 162 0.8x
Poway, CA 48,515 176 0.8x
Camp Pendleton South, CA 15,011 158 0.7x
Solana Beach, CA 12,841 254 1.2x
Valley Center, CA 10,303 166 0.8x

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