What is the cost of living in Laguna Beach, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Laguna Beach has an overall cost of living index of 324, which is 3.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Laguna Beach has a cost of living index that's 2.3x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Laguna Beach ranks as #613 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Laguna Beach ranks as the #21 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Laguna Beach, check out:
Laguna Beach Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Laguna Beach. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Laguna Beach is 111.
The Groceries index in Laguna Beach is 115.
The Health index in Laguna Beach is 817.
The Housing index in Laguna Beach is 115.
The Transportation index in Laguna Beach is 117.
The Utilities index in Laguna Beach is 120.
| Living Expense | Laguna Beach | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 324 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 817 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 120 | 121 | 100 |
Laguna 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 Laguna Beach Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Laguna 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 Laguna Beach is $2,949,835.
The Median Rent in Laguna Beach is $2,986.
The Median Income in Laguna Beach is $143,843.
The Home Value To Income in Laguna Beach is 20.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Laguna Beach is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Laguna Beach | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $2,949,835 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,986 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $143,843 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 20.5x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Laguna Beach, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Laguna Beach Services costs vs. California
| Item | Laguna Beach | 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 Laguna Beach Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Laguna Beach | 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 Laguna Beach Health costs vs. California
| Item | Laguna Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Laguna Beach Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Laguna Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Laguna Beach Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Laguna Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Laguna Beach SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Laguna Beach
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Laguna Beach. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Orange, CA has a cost of living index of 176, 0.5x Laguna Beach.
Mission Viejo, CA has a cost of living index of 190, 0.6x Laguna Beach.
Lake Forest, CA has a cost of living index of 182, 0.6x Laguna Beach.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Laguna Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange, CA | 138,266 | 176 | 0.5x |
| Mission Viejo, CA | 92,151 | 190 | 0.6x |
| Lake Forest, CA | 86,281 | 182 | 0.6x |
| Newport Beach, CA | 83,845 | 337 | 1.0x |
| Laguna Niguel, CA | 64,139 | 204 | 0.6x |
| Fountain Valley, CA | 56,258 | 188 | 0.6x |
| Aliso Viejo, CA | 51,113 | 175 | 0.5x |
| Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | 46,990 | 179 | 0.6x |
| San Juan Capistrano, CA | 35,095 | 184 | 0.6x |
| Dana Point, CA | 32,790 | 208 | 0.6x |
