What is the cost of living in Lancaster, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lancaster has an overall cost of living index of 127, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Lancaster has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Lancaster ranks as #145 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Lancaster ranks as the #489 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Lancaster, check out:
Lancaster Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lancaster. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lancaster is 108.
The Groceries index in Lancaster is 118.
The Health index in Lancaster is 147.
The Housing index in Lancaster is 118.
The Transportation index in Lancaster is 118.
The Utilities index in Lancaster is 122.
| Living Expense | Lancaster | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 127 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 118 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 147 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 122 | 121 | 100 |
Lancaster 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 Lancaster Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Lancaster, 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 Lancaster is $465,846.
The Median Rent in Lancaster is $1,764.
The Median Income in Lancaster is $81,511.
The Home Value To Income in Lancaster is 5.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lancaster is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Lancaster | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $465,846 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,764 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $81,511 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.7x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Lancaster, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Lancaster Services costs vs. California
| Item | Lancaster | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.41 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.46 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.07 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $49.33 | $45.56 |
Detailed Lancaster Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Lancaster | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.26 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.08 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $16.13 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.6 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.76 | $3.7 |
Detailed Lancaster Health costs vs. California
| Item | Lancaster | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed Lancaster Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Lancaster | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Lancaster Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Lancaster | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
Lancaster SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lancaster
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lancaster. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Palmdale, CA has a cost of living index of 131, 1.0x Lancaster.
Moorpark, CA has a cost of living index of 177, 1.4x Lancaster.
La Verne, CA has a cost of living index of 164, 1.3x Lancaster.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmdale, CA | 164,634 | 131 | 1.0x |
| Moorpark, CA | 35,854 | 177 | 1.4x |
| La Verne, CA | 30,600 | 164 | 1.3x |
| Walnut, CA | 27,611 | 199 | 1.6x |
| West Puente Valley, CA | 22,495 | 148 | 1.2x |
| Rosamond, CA | 21,473 | 115 | 0.9x |
| Valinda, CA | 20,962 | 150 | 1.2x |
| Vincent, CA | 15,340 | 149 | 1.2x |
| Oak Park, CA | 13,757 | 200 | 1.6x |
| Avocado Heights, CA | 12,593 | 153 | 1.2x |
