What is the cost of living in La Mesa, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, La Mesa has an overall cost of living index of 161, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, La Mesa has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in La Mesa ranks as #373 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies La Mesa ranks as the #261 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in La Mesa, check out:
La Mesa Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in La Mesa. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in La Mesa is 111.
The Groceries index in La Mesa is 114.
The Health index in La Mesa is 262.
The Housing index in La Mesa is 116.
The Transportation index in La Mesa is 116.
The Utilities index in La Mesa is 117.
| Living Expense | La Mesa | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 161 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 262 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 117 | 121 | 100 |
La Mesa 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 La Mesa Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
La Mesa, 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 La Mesa is $893,276.
The Median Rent in La Mesa is $2,049.
The Median Income in La Mesa is $95,028.
The Home Value To Income in La Mesa is 9.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in La Mesa is 0.26x.
| Statistic | La Mesa | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $893,276 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,049 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $95,028 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
La Mesa, CA Costs By Category
Detailed La Mesa Services costs vs. California
| Item | La Mesa | 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 La Mesa Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | La Mesa | 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 La Mesa Health costs vs. California
| Item | La Mesa | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $138.66 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $132.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $121.37 | $113.29 |
Detailed La Mesa Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | La Mesa | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.68 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.4 | $59.92 |
Detailed La Mesa Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | La Mesa | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.42 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
La Mesa SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around La Mesa
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around La Mesa. 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, 1.1x La Mesa.
El Cajon, CA has a cost of living index of 152, 0.9x La Mesa.
Santee, CA has a cost of living index of 155, 1.0x La Mesa.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. La Mesa |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | 1,389,526 | 175 | 1.1x |
| El Cajon, CA | 104,449 | 152 | 0.9x |
| Santee, CA | 59,332 | 155 | 1.0x |
| Poway, CA | 48,713 | 179 | 1.1x |
| La Presa, CA | 34,962 | 145 | 0.9x |
| Lemon Grove, CA | 27,686 | 145 | 0.9x |
| Winter Gardens, CA | 22,131 | 149 | 0.9x |
| Rancho San Diego, CA | 21,272 | 172 | 1.1x |
| Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, CA | 19,765 | 171 | 1.1x |
| Bostonia, CA | 16,765 | 140 | 0.9x |
