What is the cost of living in Lakewood, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lakewood has an overall cost of living index of 166, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Lakewood has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Lakewood ranks as #399 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Lakewood ranks as the #235 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Lakewood, check out:
Lakewood Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lakewood. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lakewood is 111.
The Groceries index in Lakewood is 117.
The Health index in Lakewood is 291.
The Housing index in Lakewood is 113.
The Transportation index in Lakewood is 122.
The Utilities index in Lakewood is 116.
| Living Expense | Lakewood | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 166 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 291 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 122 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 116 | 121 | 100 |
Lakewood 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 Lakewood Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Lakewood, 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 Lakewood is $882,501.
The Median Rent in Lakewood is $2,347.
The Median Income in Lakewood is $119,177.
The Home Value To Income in Lakewood is 7.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lakewood is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Lakewood | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $882,501 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,347 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $119,177 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Lakewood, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Lakewood Services costs vs. California
| Item | Lakewood | 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 Lakewood Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Lakewood | 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 Lakewood Health costs vs. California
| Item | Lakewood | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Lakewood Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Lakewood | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Lakewood Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Lakewood | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Lakewood SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lakewood
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lakewood. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Long Beach, CA has a cost of living index of 163, 1.0x Lakewood.
Norwalk, CA has a cost of living index of 151, 0.9x Lakewood.
Bellflower, CA has a cost of living index of 151, 0.9x Lakewood.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lakewood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Beach, CA | 455,548 | 163 | 1.0x |
| Norwalk, CA | 99,789 | 151 | 0.9x |
| Bellflower, CA | 76,819 | 151 | 0.9x |
| Placentia, CA | 52,826 | 173 | 1.0x |
| Paramount, CA | 52,050 | 140 | 0.8x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 1.1x |
| Cerritos, CA | 47,867 | 185 | 1.1x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 1.0x |
| North Tustin, CA | 25,807 | 212 | 1.3x |
| West Puente Valley, CA | 22,495 | 148 | 0.9x |
