What is the cost of living in Fullerton, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fullerton has an overall cost of living index of 177, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Fullerton has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Fullerton ranks as #458 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Fullerton ranks as the #176 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Fullerton, check out:
Fullerton Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fullerton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fullerton is 111.
The Groceries index in Fullerton is 122.
The Health index in Fullerton is 305.
The Housing index in Fullerton is 115.
The Transportation index in Fullerton is 117.
The Utilities index in Fullerton is 126.
| Living Expense | Fullerton | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 177 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 122 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 305 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 126 | 121 | 100 |
Fullerton 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 Fullerton Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Fullerton, 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 Fullerton is $1,050,944.
The Median Rent in Fullerton is $2,194.
The Median Income in Fullerton is $104,286.
The Home Value To Income in Fullerton is 10.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fullerton is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Fullerton | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,050,944 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,194 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $104,286 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.1x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Fullerton, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Fullerton Services costs vs. California
| Item | Fullerton | 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 Fullerton Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Fullerton | 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 Fullerton Health costs vs. California
| Item | Fullerton | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fullerton Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Fullerton | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fullerton Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Fullerton | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Fullerton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fullerton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fullerton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Buena Park, CA has a cost of living index of 168, 0.9x Fullerton.
Lakewood, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 0.9x Fullerton.
La Habra, CA has a cost of living index of 167, 0.9x Fullerton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fullerton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buena Park, CA | 82,871 | 168 | 0.9x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 0.9x |
| La Habra, CA | 61,970 | 167 | 0.9x |
| South Whittier, CA | 55,650 | 156 | 0.9x |
| Placentia, CA | 52,826 | 173 | 1.0x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 1.0x |
| Brea, CA | 47,469 | 177 | 1.0x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 0.9x |
| Rowland Heights, CA | 45,911 | 174 | 1.0x |
| North Tustin, CA | 25,807 | 212 | 1.2x |
