What is the cost of living in Lake Mathews, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lake Mathews has an overall cost of living index of 160, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Lake Mathews has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Lake Mathews ranks as #368 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Lake Mathews ranks as the #266 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Lake Mathews, check out:
Lake Mathews Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lake Mathews. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lake Mathews is 111.
The Groceries index in Lake Mathews is 120.
The Health index in Lake Mathews is 256.
The Housing index in Lake Mathews is 121.
The Transportation index in Lake Mathews is 122.
The Utilities index in Lake Mathews is 119.
| Living Expense | Lake Mathews | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 160 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 120 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 256 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 122 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 121 | 100 |
Lake Mathews 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 Mathews Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Lake Mathews, 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 Mathews is $802,203.
The Median Rent in Lake Mathews is $1,866.
The Median Income in Lake Mathews is $94,444.
The Home Value To Income in Lake Mathews is 8.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lake Mathews is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Lake Mathews | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $802,203 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,866 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $94,444 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.5x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Lake Mathews, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Lake Mathews Services costs vs. California
| Item | Lake Mathews | 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 Mathews Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Lake Mathews | 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 Mathews Health costs vs. California
| Item | Lake Mathews | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Lake Mathews Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Lake Mathews | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Lake Mathews Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Lake Mathews | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Lake Mathews SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lake Mathews
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lake Mathews. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Riverside, CA has a cost of living index of 138, 0.9x Lake Mathews.
Corona, CA has a cost of living index of 152, 0.9x Lake Mathews.
Perris, CA has a cost of living index of 132, 0.8x Lake Mathews.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lake Mathews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside, CA | 319,069 | 138 | 0.9x |
| Corona, CA | 159,670 | 152 | 0.9x |
| Perris, CA | 80,511 | 132 | 0.8x |
| Redlands, CA | 73,375 | 145 | 0.9x |
| Eastvale, CA | 70,633 | 174 | 1.1x |
| Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | 46,990 | 179 | 1.1x |
| Temescal Valley, CA | 30,069 | 158 | 1.0x |
| El Cerrito, CA | 25,994 | 203 | 1.3x |
| Loma Linda, CA | 25,122 | 140 | 0.9x |
| Norco, CA | 25,054 | 164 | 1.0x |
