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 337, 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 142.
The standard of living in Malibu ranks as #620 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Malibu ranks as the #14 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Malibu, check out:
Malibu Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Malibu. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Malibu is 110.
The Groceries index in Malibu is 120.
The Health index in Malibu is 842.
The Housing index in Malibu is 121.
The Transportation index in Malibu is 123.
The Utilities index in Malibu is 126.
| Living Expense | Malibu | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 337 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 120 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 842 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 123 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 126 | 121 | 100 |
Malibu 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 Malibu Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Malibu is $3,142,247.
The Median Rent in Malibu is $3,501.
The Median Income in Malibu is $194,421.
The Home Value To Income in Malibu is 16.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Malibu is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Malibu | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $3,142,247 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,501 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $194,421 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 16.2x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
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
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 177, 0.5x Malibu.
Thousand Oaks, CA has a cost of living index of 190, 0.6x Malibu.
Santa Monica, CA has a cost of living index of 274, 0.8x Malibu.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Malibu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simi Valley, CA | 125,634 | 177 | 0.5x |
| Thousand Oaks, CA | 125,205 | 190 | 0.6x |
| Santa Monica, CA | 91,169 | 274 | 0.8x |
| Camarillo, CA | 70,186 | 172 | 0.5x |
| Moorpark, CA | 35,854 | 177 | 0.5x |
| Calabasas, CA | 22,669 | 240 | 0.7x |
| Agoura Hills, CA | 19,721 | 203 | 0.6x |
| Oak Park, CA | 13,757 | 200 | 0.6x |
| Marina del Rey, CA | 9,176 | 220 | 0.7x |
| Topanga, CA | 8,885 | 249 | 0.7x |
