What is the cost of living in Lake Elsinore, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lake Elsinore has an overall cost of living index of 139, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Lake Elsinore has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Lake Elsinore ranks as #224 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Lake Elsinore ranks as the #410 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Lake Elsinore, check out:
Lake Elsinore Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lake Elsinore. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lake Elsinore is 110.
The Groceries index in Lake Elsinore is 116.
The Health index in Lake Elsinore is 193.
The Housing index in Lake Elsinore is 118.
The Transportation index in Lake Elsinore is 120.
The Utilities index in Lake Elsinore is 118.
| Living Expense | Lake Elsinore | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 139 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 193 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 118 | 121 | 100 |
Lake Elsinore 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 Lake Elsinore Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Lake Elsinore, 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 Lake Elsinore is $586,598.
The Median Rent in Lake Elsinore is $2,078.
The Median Income in Lake Elsinore is $101,888.
The Home Value To Income in Lake Elsinore is 5.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lake Elsinore is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Lake Elsinore | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $586,598 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,078 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $101,888 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.8x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Lake Elsinore, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Lake Elsinore Services costs vs. California
| Item | Lake Elsinore | 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 Lake Elsinore Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Lake Elsinore | 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 Lake Elsinore Health costs vs. California
| Item | Lake Elsinore | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Lake Elsinore Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Lake Elsinore | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Lake Elsinore Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Lake Elsinore | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Lake Elsinore SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lake Elsinore
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lake Elsinore. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Corona, CA has a cost of living index of 152, 1.1x Lake Elsinore.
Lakeland, FL has a cost of living index of 104, 0.7x Lake Elsinore.
Murrieta, CA has a cost of living index of 151, 1.1x Lake Elsinore.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lake Elsinore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corona, CA | 159,670 | 152 | 1.1x |
| Lakeland, FL | 119,961 | 104 | 0.7x |
| Murrieta, CA | 112,064 | 151 | 1.1x |
| Temecula, CA | 111,167 | 156 | 1.1x |
| Menifee, CA | 110,305 | 135 | 1.0x |
| Mission Viejo, CA | 92,151 | 190 | 1.4x |
| Lake Forest, CA | 86,281 | 182 | 1.3x |
| Perris, CA | 80,511 | 132 | 0.9x |
| Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | 46,990 | 179 | 1.3x |
| Wildomar, CA | 37,277 | 141 | 1.0x |
