What is the cost of living in Lawndale, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lawndale has an overall cost of living index of 159, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Lawndale has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Lawndale ranks as #361 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Lawndale ranks as the #273 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Lawndale, check out:
Lawndale Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lawndale. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lawndale is 112.
The Groceries index in Lawndale is 117.
The Health index in Lawndale is 260.
The Housing index in Lawndale is 118.
The Transportation index in Lawndale is 117.
The Utilities index in Lawndale is 117.
| Living Expense | Lawndale | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 159 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 260 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 117 | 121 | 100 |
Lawndale 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 Lawndale Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Lawndale, 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 Lawndale is $777,393.
The Median Rent in Lawndale is $1,938.
The Median Income in Lawndale is $85,441.
The Home Value To Income in Lawndale is 9.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lawndale is 0.27x.
| Statistic | Lawndale | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $777,393 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,938 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $85,441 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.1x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.27x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Lawndale, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Lawndale Services costs vs. California
| Item | Lawndale | 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 Lawndale Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Lawndale | 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 Lawndale Health costs vs. California
| Item | Lawndale | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed Lawndale Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Lawndale | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Lawndale Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Lawndale | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
Lawndale SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lawndale
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lawndale. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Torrance, CA has a cost of living index of 196, 1.2x Lawndale.
Hawthorne, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 1.0x Lawndale.
Lakewood, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 1.0x Lawndale.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lawndale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torrance, CA | 142,130 | 196 | 1.2x |
| Hawthorne, CA | 85,191 | 166 | 1.0x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 1.0x |
| Redondo Beach, CA | 69,291 | 213 | 1.3x |
| Gardena, CA | 59,422 | 155 | 1.0x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 1.1x |
| Cerritos, CA | 47,867 | 185 | 1.2x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 1.1x |
| Manhattan Beach, CA | 34,210 | 340 | 2.1x |
| South Pasadena, CA | 26,068 | 229 | 1.4x |
