What is the cost of living in Glendale, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Glendale has an overall cost of living index of 195, which is 1.9x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Glendale has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Glendale ranks as #509 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Glendale ranks as the #125 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Glendale, check out:
Glendale Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Glendale. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Glendale is 111.
The Groceries index in Glendale is 116.
The Health index in Glendale is 372.
The Housing index in Glendale is 118.
The Transportation index in Glendale is 121.
The Utilities index in Glendale is 127.
| Living Expense | Glendale | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 195 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 372 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 121 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 127 | 121 | 100 |
Glendale 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 Glendale Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Glendale, 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 Glendale is $1,201,879.
The Median Rent in Glendale is $2,182.
The Median Income in Glendale is $88,393.
The Home Value To Income in Glendale is 13.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Glendale is 0.3x.
| Statistic | Glendale | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,201,879 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,182 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $88,393 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 13.6x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.3x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Glendale, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Glendale Services costs vs. California
| Item | Glendale | 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 Glendale Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Glendale | 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 Glendale Health costs vs. California
| Item | Glendale | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed Glendale Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Glendale | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Glendale Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Glendale | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
Glendale SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Glendale
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Glendale. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Pasadena, CA has a cost of living index of 198, 1.0x Glendale.
Alhambra, CA has a cost of living index of 170, 0.9x Glendale.
Altadena, CA has a cost of living index of 191, 1.0x Glendale.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Glendale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pasadena, CA | 136,969 | 198 | 1.0x |
| Alhambra, CA | 81,022 | 170 | 0.9x |
| Altadena, CA | 41,705 | 191 | 1.0x |
| West Hollywood, CA | 34,884 | 182 | 0.9x |
| South Pasadena, CA | 26,068 | 229 | 1.2x |
| West Whittier-Los Nietos, CA | 25,615 | 150 | 0.8x |
| San Fernando, CA | 23,632 | 151 | 0.8x |
| West Puente Valley, CA | 22,495 | 148 | 0.8x |
| La Crescenta-Montrose, CA | 19,660 | 200 | 1.0x |
| Vincent, CA | 15,340 | 149 | 0.8x |
