What is the cost of living in Imperial Beach, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Imperial Beach has an overall cost of living index of 168, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Imperial Beach has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Imperial Beach ranks as #412 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Imperial Beach ranks as the #222 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Imperial Beach, check out:
Imperial Beach Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Imperial Beach. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Imperial Beach is 113.
The Groceries index in Imperial Beach is 119.
The Health index in Imperial Beach is 278.
The Housing index in Imperial Beach is 125.
The Transportation index in Imperial Beach is 118.
The Utilities index in Imperial Beach is 124.
| Living Expense | Imperial Beach | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 168 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 113 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 119 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 278 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 125 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 124 | 121 | 100 |
Imperial Beach 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 Imperial Beach Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Imperial Beach, 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 Imperial Beach is $842,136.
The Median Rent in Imperial Beach is $2,011.
The Median Income in Imperial Beach is $86,111.
The Home Value To Income in Imperial Beach is 9.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Imperial Beach is 0.28x.
| Statistic | Imperial Beach | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $842,136 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,011 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $86,111 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.8x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.28x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Imperial Beach, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Imperial Beach Services costs vs. California
| Item | Imperial Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.5 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.89 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.92 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.77 | $45.56 |
Detailed Imperial Beach Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Imperial Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.05 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.98 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.25 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed Imperial Beach Health costs vs. California
| Item | Imperial Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $138.66 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $132.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $121.37 | $113.29 |
Detailed Imperial Beach Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Imperial Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.68 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.4 | $59.92 |
Detailed Imperial Beach Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Imperial Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.42 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Imperial Beach SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Imperial Beach
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Imperial Beach. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
San Diego, CA has a cost of living index of 175, 1.0x Imperial Beach.
Chula Vista, CA has a cost of living index of 161, 1.0x Imperial Beach.
La Mesa, CA has a cost of living index of 161, 1.0x Imperial Beach.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Imperial Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | 1,389,526 | 175 | 1.0x |
| Chula Vista, CA | 276,375 | 161 | 1.0x |
| La Mesa, CA | 60,797 | 161 | 1.0x |
| La Presa, CA | 34,962 | 145 | 0.9x |
| Lemon Grove, CA | 27,686 | 145 | 0.9x |
| Rancho San Diego, CA | 21,272 | 172 | 1.0x |
| Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, CA | 19,765 | 171 | 1.0x |
| Coronado, CA | 19,015 | 300 | 1.8x |
| Bonita, CA | 12,652 | 177 | 1.1x |
| Jamul, CA | 6,574 | 185 | 1.1x |
