What is the cost of living in Mammoth Lakes, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Mammoth Lakes has an overall cost of living index of 146, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Mammoth Lakes has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Mammoth Lakes ranks as #275 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Mammoth Lakes ranks as the #359 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Mammoth Lakes, check out:
Mammoth Lakes Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Mammoth Lakes. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Mammoth Lakes is 111.
The Groceries index in Mammoth Lakes is 119.
The Health index in Mammoth Lakes is 223.
The Housing index in Mammoth Lakes is 124.
The Transportation index in Mammoth Lakes is 121.
The Utilities index in Mammoth Lakes is 116.
| Living Expense | Mammoth Lakes | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 146 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 119 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 223 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 124 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 121 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 116 | 121 | 100 |
Mammoth Lakes 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 Mammoth Lakes Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Mammoth Lakes, 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 Mammoth Lakes is $817,134.
The Median Rent in Mammoth Lakes is $1,645.
The Median Income in Mammoth Lakes is $98,056.
The Home Value To Income in Mammoth Lakes is 8.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Mammoth Lakes is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Mammoth Lakes | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $817,134 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,645 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $98,056 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.3x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Mammoth Lakes, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Mammoth Lakes Services costs vs. California
| Item | Mammoth Lakes | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.56 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.64 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $23.78 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.83 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $76.57 | $45.56 |
Detailed Mammoth Lakes Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Mammoth Lakes | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.21 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.1 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.99 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.96 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.86 | $3.7 |
Detailed Mammoth Lakes Health costs vs. California
| Item | Mammoth Lakes | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $157.88 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $166.71 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $148.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Mammoth Lakes Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Mammoth Lakes | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.51 | $59.92 |
Detailed Mammoth Lakes Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Mammoth Lakes | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $299.78 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $191.56 | $192.25 |
Mammoth Lakes SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Mammoth Lakes
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Mammoth Lakes. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Paradise, CA has a cost of living index of 125, 0.9x Mammoth Lakes.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Mammoth Lakes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paradise, CA | 7,392 | 125 | 0.9x |








