What is the cost of living in Garden Grove, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Garden Grove has an overall cost of living index of 167, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Garden Grove has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Garden Grove ranks as #404 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Garden Grove ranks as the #230 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Garden Grove, check out:
Garden Grove Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Garden Grove. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Garden Grove is 113.
The Groceries index in Garden Grove is 117.
The Health index in Garden Grove is 271.
The Housing index in Garden Grove is 118.
The Transportation index in Garden Grove is 123.
The Utilities index in Garden Grove is 126.
| Living Expense | Garden Grove | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 167 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 113 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 271 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 123 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 126 | 121 | 100 |
Garden Grove 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 Garden Grove Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Garden Grove, 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 Garden Grove is $1,013,182.
The Median Rent in Garden Grove is $2,012.
The Median Income in Garden Grove is $92,174.
The Home Value To Income in Garden Grove is 11.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Garden Grove is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Garden Grove | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,013,182 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,012 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $92,174 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 11.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Garden Grove, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Garden Grove Services costs vs. California
| Item | Garden Grove | 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 Garden Grove Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Garden Grove | 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 Garden Grove Health costs vs. California
| Item | Garden Grove | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Garden Grove Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Garden Grove | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Garden Grove Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Garden Grove | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Garden Grove SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Garden Grove
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Garden Grove. 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, 1.0x Garden Grove.
Huntington Beach, CA has a cost of living index of 194, 1.2x Garden Grove.
Orange, CA has a cost of living index of 176, 1.1x Garden Grove.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Garden Grove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana, CA | 312,534 | 161 | 1.0x |
| Huntington Beach, CA | 195,240 | 194 | 1.2x |
| Orange, CA | 138,266 | 176 | 1.1x |
| Westminster, CA | 89,860 | 171 | 1.0x |
| Lake Forest, CA | 86,281 | 182 | 1.1x |
| Buena Park, CA | 82,871 | 168 | 1.0x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 1.0x |
| Yorba Linda, CA | 67,170 | 203 | 1.2x |
| Fountain Valley, CA | 56,258 | 188 | 1.1x |
| Aliso Viejo, CA | 51,113 | 175 | 1.0x |
