What is the cost of living in Lemon Grove, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lemon Grove has an overall cost of living index of 145, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Lemon Grove has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Lemon Grove ranks as #267 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Lemon Grove ranks as the #367 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Lemon Grove, check out:
Lemon Grove Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lemon Grove. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lemon Grove is 106.
The Groceries index in Lemon Grove is 113.
The Health index in Lemon Grove is 214.
The Housing index in Lemon Grove is 119.
The Transportation index in Lemon Grove is 115.
The Utilities index in Lemon Grove is 114.
| Living Expense | Lemon Grove | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 145 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 214 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 119 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 114 | 121 | 100 |
Lemon Grove 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 Lemon Grove Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Lemon Grove, 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 Lemon Grove is $762,357.
The Median Rent in Lemon Grove is $1,893.
The Median Income in Lemon Grove is $88,009.
The Home Value To Income in Lemon Grove is 8.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lemon Grove is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Lemon Grove | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $762,357 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,893 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $88,009 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.7x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Lemon Grove, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Lemon Grove Services costs vs. California
| Item | Lemon Grove | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.5 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.89 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.92 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.77 | $45.56 |
Detailed Lemon Grove Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Lemon Grove | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.05 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.98 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.25 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed Lemon Grove Health costs vs. California
| Item | Lemon Grove | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $138.66 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $132.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $121.37 | $113.29 |
Detailed Lemon Grove Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Lemon Grove | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.68 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.4 | $59.92 |
Detailed Lemon Grove Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Lemon Grove | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.42 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Lemon Grove SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lemon Grove
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lemon Grove. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
San Diego, CA has a cost of living index of 175, 1.2x Lemon Grove.
Chula Vista, CA has a cost of living index of 161, 1.1x Lemon Grove.
El Cajon, CA has a cost of living index of 152, 1.0x Lemon Grove.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lemon Grove |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | 1,389,526 | 175 | 1.2x |
| Chula Vista, CA | 276,375 | 161 | 1.1x |
| El Cajon, CA | 104,449 | 152 | 1.0x |
| La Mesa, CA | 60,797 | 161 | 1.1x |
| Santee, CA | 59,332 | 155 | 1.1x |
| Poway, CA | 48,713 | 179 | 1.2x |
| La Presa, CA | 34,962 | 145 | 1.0x |
| Winter Gardens, CA | 22,131 | 149 | 1.0x |
| Rancho San Diego, CA | 21,272 | 172 | 1.2x |
| Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, CA | 19,765 | 171 | 1.2x |
