What is the cost of living in Gardena, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Gardena has an overall cost of living index of 155, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Gardena has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Gardena ranks as #332 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Gardena ranks as the #302 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Gardena, check out:
Gardena Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Gardena. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Gardena is 114.
The Groceries index in Gardena is 114.
The Health index in Gardena is 243.
The Housing index in Gardena is 116.
The Transportation index in Gardena is 118.
The Utilities index in Gardena is 118.
| Living Expense | Gardena | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 155 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 114 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 243 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 118 | 121 | 100 |
Gardena 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 Gardena Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Gardena, 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 Gardena is $792,921.
The Median Rent in Gardena is $1,809.
The Median Income in Gardena is $84,803.
The Home Value To Income in Gardena is 9.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Gardena is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Gardena | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $792,921 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,809 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $84,803 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Gardena, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Gardena Services costs vs. California
| Item | Gardena | 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 Gardena Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Gardena | 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 Gardena Health costs vs. California
| Item | Gardena | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed Gardena Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Gardena | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Gardena Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Gardena | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
Gardena SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Gardena
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Gardena. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Torrance, CA has a cost of living index of 196, 1.3x Gardena.
Hawthorne, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 1.1x Gardena.
Lakewood, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 1.1x Gardena.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Gardena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torrance, CA | 142,130 | 196 | 1.3x |
| Hawthorne, CA | 85,191 | 166 | 1.1x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 1.1x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 1.1x |
| Cerritos, CA | 47,867 | 185 | 1.2x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 1.1x |
| Westmont, CA | 34,123 | 144 | 0.9x |
| Lawndale, CA | 30,781 | 159 | 1.0x |
| South Pasadena, CA | 26,068 | 229 | 1.5x |
| West Rancho Dominguez, CA | 23,300 | 140 | 0.9x |
