What is the cost of living in Fountain Valley, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fountain Valley has an overall cost of living index of 188, which is 1.9x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Fountain Valley has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Fountain Valley ranks as #490 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Fountain Valley ranks as the #144 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Fountain Valley, check out:
Fountain Valley Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fountain Valley. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fountain Valley is 108.
The Groceries index in Fountain Valley is 113.
The Health index in Fountain Valley is 363.
The Housing index in Fountain Valley is 117.
The Transportation index in Fountain Valley is 115.
The Utilities index in Fountain Valley is 116.
| Living Expense | Fountain Valley | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 188 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 363 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 116 | 121 | 100 |
Fountain Valley 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 Fountain Valley Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Fountain Valley, 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 Fountain Valley is $1,394,237.
The Median Rent in Fountain Valley is $2,631.
The Median Income in Fountain Valley is $115,237.
The Home Value To Income in Fountain Valley is 12.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fountain Valley is 0.27x.
| Statistic | Fountain Valley | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,394,237 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,631 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $115,237 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 12.1x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.27x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Fountain Valley, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Fountain Valley Services costs vs. California
| Item | Fountain Valley | 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 Fountain Valley Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Fountain Valley | 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 Fountain Valley Health costs vs. California
| Item | Fountain Valley | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fountain Valley Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Fountain Valley | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fountain Valley Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Fountain Valley | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Fountain Valley SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fountain Valley
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fountain Valley. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Santa Ana, CA has a cost of living index of 161, 0.9x Fountain Valley.
Huntington Beach, CA has a cost of living index of 194, 1.0x Fountain Valley.
Garden Grove, CA has a cost of living index of 167, 0.9x Fountain Valley.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fountain Valley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana, CA | 312,534 | 161 | 0.9x |
| Huntington Beach, CA | 195,240 | 194 | 1.0x |
| Garden Grove, CA | 170,964 | 167 | 0.9x |
| Orange, CA | 138,266 | 176 | 0.9x |
| Costa Mesa, CA | 110,330 | 198 | 1.1x |
| Mission Viejo, CA | 92,151 | 190 | 1.0x |
| Westminster, CA | 89,860 | 171 | 0.9x |
| Lake Forest, CA | 86,281 | 182 | 1.0x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 0.9x |
| Tustin, CA | 78,981 | 181 | 1.0x |
