What is the cost of living in La Palma, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, La Palma has an overall cost of living index of 178, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, La Palma has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in La Palma ranks as #463 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies La Palma ranks as the #171 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in La Palma, check out:
La Palma Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in La Palma. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in La Palma is 113.
The Groceries index in La Palma is 114.
The Health index in La Palma is 322.
The Housing index in La Palma is 116.
The Transportation index in La Palma is 123.
The Utilities index in La Palma is 116.
| Living Expense | La Palma | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 178 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 113 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 322 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 123 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 116 | 121 | 100 |
La Palma 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 Palma Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
La Palma, 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 Palma is $1,203,549.
The Median Rent in La Palma is $2,262.
The Median Income in La Palma is $117,989.
The Home Value To Income in La Palma is 10.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in La Palma is 0.23x.
| Statistic | La Palma | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,203,549 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,262 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $117,989 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.2x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
La Palma, CA Costs By Category
Detailed La Palma Services costs vs. California
| Item | La Palma | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.34 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.04 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.11 | $18 |
| Haircut | $27.27 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $41.78 | $45.56 |
Detailed La Palma Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | La Palma | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.89 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.49 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.92 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.92 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.31 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.26 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed La Palma Health costs vs. California
| Item | La Palma | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed La Palma Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | La Palma | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed La Palma Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | La Palma | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
La Palma SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around La Palma
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around La Palma. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Norwalk, CA has a cost of living index of 151, 0.8x La Palma.
Buena Park, CA has a cost of living index of 168, 0.9x La Palma.
Lakewood, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 0.9x La Palma.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. La Palma |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwalk, CA | 99,789 | 151 | 0.8x |
| Buena Park, CA | 82,871 | 168 | 0.9x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 0.9x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 1.0x |
| Cerritos, CA | 47,867 | 185 | 1.0x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 0.9x |
| Stanton, CA | 39,402 | 145 | 0.8x |
| North Tustin, CA | 25,807 | 212 | 1.2x |
| West Puente Valley, CA | 22,495 | 148 | 0.8x |
| Artesia, CA | 15,889 | 167 | 0.9x |
