Malibu, CA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Malibu, CA Summary

Cost of living in Malibu research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Malibu is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in California, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Malibu is 335, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Malibu is 3.4x higher than the national average.

  • Malibu ranks as the #624 cheapest in California out of 634.

  • Malibu ranks as the #6,479 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Malibu is $3,205,716.

  • The median income in Malibu is $192,159.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
335
Malibu's Overall Cost Of Living
3.4x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Malibu, CA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Malibu has an overall cost of living index of 335, which is 3.4x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to California, Malibu has a cost of living index that's 2.4x higher than California's index of 141.

The standard of living in Malibu ranks as #624 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Malibu ranks as the #10 most expensive place in the Golden State.

For more reading on life in Malibu, check out:

624 out of 634
In California
6,479 out of 6,489
In America

Malibu Cost Of Living Vs. California

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Malibu. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Malibu is 117.

  • The Groceries index in Malibu is 114.

  • The Health index in Malibu is 106.

  • The Housing index in Malibu is 845.

  • The Transportation index in Malibu is 124.

  • The Utilities index in Malibu is 113.

Living Expense Malibu California National Average
Overall 335 141 100
Services 117 110 100
Groceries 114 112 100
Health 106 110 100
Housing 845 195 100
Transportation 124 125 100
Utilities 113 128 100
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Malibu Cost of Living Vs. CA

Malibu, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Malibu is $3,205,716.

  • The Median Rent in Malibu is $3,501.

  • The Median Income in Malibu is $192,159.

  • The Home Value To Income in Malibu is 16.7x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Malibu is 0.22x.

Statistic Malibu California United States
Median Home Value $3,205,716 $763,287 $303,400
Median Rent $3,501 $1,956 $1,348
Median Income $192,159 $96,334 $78,538
Home Value To Income 16.7x 7.9x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.22x 0.24x 0.21x
$3,205,716
Median Home Value
$3,501
Median Rent
$192,159
Median Income

Malibu, CA Costs By Category

Detailed Malibu Services Costs Vs. California

Item Malibu 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 Malibu Groceries Costs Vs. California

Item Malibu 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 Malibu Health Costs Vs. California

Item Malibu California
Optometrist $129.09 $125.68
Doctor $119.86 $135.78
Dentist $108.07 $113.29

Detailed Malibu Transportation Costs Vs. California

Item Malibu California
Gasoline $4.47 $3.46
Tire Balancing $58.33 $59.92

Detailed Malibu Utilities Costs Vs. California

Item Malibu California
All Electricity $326.49 $193.99
Phone $182.78 $192.25

Malibu SnackAbility

8.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
10
Affordability
5
Diversity
8
Safety
5
Amenities
7
Education
9.5
Commute
3

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Malibu

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Malibu. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Simi Valley, CA has a cost of living index of 172, 0.5x Malibu.

  • Thousand Oaks, CA has a cost of living index of 185, 0.6x Malibu.

  • Santa Monica, CA has a cost of living index of 265, 0.8x Malibu.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Malibu
Simi Valley, CA 125,769 172 0.5x
Thousand Oaks, CA 125,676 185 0.6x
Santa Monica, CA 91,535 265 0.8x
Camarillo, CA 70,244 170 0.5x
Moorpark, CA 35,957 174 0.5x
Calabasas, CA 22,869 235 0.7x
Agoura Hills, CA 19,881 199 0.6x
Oak Park, CA 13,656 197 0.6x
Marina del Rey, CA 8,844 212 0.6x
Topanga, CA 8,781 241 0.7x

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