What is the cost of living in Hawthorne, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Hawthorne has an overall cost of living index of 166, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Hawthorne has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Hawthorne ranks as #399 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Hawthorne ranks as the #235 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Hawthorne, check out:
Hawthorne Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Hawthorne. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Hawthorne is 116.
The Groceries index in Hawthorne is 118.
The Health index in Hawthorne is 272.
The Housing index in Hawthorne is 121.
The Transportation index in Hawthorne is 125.
The Utilities index in Hawthorne is 125.
| Living Expense | Hawthorne | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 166 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 116 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 118 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 272 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 125 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 125 | 121 | 100 |
Hawthorne 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 Hawthorne Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Hawthorne, 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 Hawthorne is $883,585.
The Median Rent in Hawthorne is $1,782.
The Median Income in Hawthorne is $75,848.
The Home Value To Income in Hawthorne is 11.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Hawthorne is 0.28x.
| Statistic | Hawthorne | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $883,585 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,782 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $75,848 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 11.6x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.28x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Hawthorne, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Hawthorne Services costs vs. California
| Item | Hawthorne | 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 Hawthorne Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Hawthorne | 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 Hawthorne Health costs vs. California
| Item | Hawthorne | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed Hawthorne Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Hawthorne | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Hawthorne Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Hawthorne | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
Hawthorne SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Hawthorne
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Hawthorne. 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, 1.2x Hawthorne.
Inglewood, CA has a cost of living index of 160, 1.0x Hawthorne.
Lakewood, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 1.0x Hawthorne.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Hawthorne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torrance, CA | 142,130 | 196 | 1.2x |
| Inglewood, CA | 104,569 | 160 | 1.0x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 1.0x |
| Gardena, CA | 59,422 | 155 | 0.9x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 1.1x |
| Cerritos, CA | 47,867 | 185 | 1.1x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 1.0x |
| Manhattan Beach, CA | 34,210 | 340 | 2.0x |
| Westmont, CA | 34,123 | 144 | 0.9x |
| Lawndale, CA | 30,781 | 159 | 1.0x |
