What is the cost of living in Laguna Woods, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Laguna Woods has an overall cost of living index of 137, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Laguna Woods has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Laguna Woods ranks as #208 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Laguna Woods ranks as the #426 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Laguna Woods, check out:
Laguna Woods Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Laguna Woods. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Laguna Woods is 108.
The Groceries index in Laguna Woods is 113.
The Health index in Laguna Woods is 180.
The Housing index in Laguna Woods is 119.
The Transportation index in Laguna Woods is 120.
The Utilities index in Laguna Woods is 121.
| Living Expense | Laguna Woods | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 137 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 180 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 119 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 121 | 121 | 100 |
Laguna Woods 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 Woods Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Laguna Woods, 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 Woods is $471,410.
The Median Rent in Laguna Woods is $2,328.
The Median Income in Laguna Woods is $59,269.
The Home Value To Income in Laguna Woods is 8.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Laguna Woods is 0.47x.
| Statistic | Laguna Woods | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $471,410 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,328 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $59,269 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.47x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Laguna Woods, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Laguna Woods Services costs vs. California
| Item | Laguna Woods | 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 Woods Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Laguna Woods | 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 Woods Health costs vs. California
| Item | Laguna Woods | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Laguna Woods Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Laguna Woods | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Laguna Woods Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Laguna Woods | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Laguna Woods SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Laguna Woods
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Laguna Woods. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Irvine, CA has a cost of living index of 209, 1.5x Laguna Woods.
Orange, CA has a cost of living index of 176, 1.3x Laguna Woods.
Mission Viejo, CA has a cost of living index of 190, 1.4x Laguna Woods.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Laguna Woods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irvine, CA | 311,690 | 209 | 1.5x |
| Orange, CA | 138,266 | 176 | 1.3x |
| Mission Viejo, CA | 92,151 | 190 | 1.4x |
| Lake Forest, CA | 86,281 | 182 | 1.3x |
| Yorba Linda, CA | 67,170 | 203 | 1.5x |
| Laguna Niguel, CA | 64,139 | 204 | 1.5x |
| Fountain Valley, CA | 56,258 | 188 | 1.4x |
| Placentia, CA | 52,826 | 173 | 1.3x |
| Aliso Viejo, CA | 51,113 | 175 | 1.3x |
| Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | 46,990 | 179 | 1.3x |
