What is the cost of living in Mission Viejo, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Mission Viejo has an overall cost of living index of 190, which is 1.9x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Mission Viejo has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Mission Viejo ranks as #495 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Mission Viejo ranks as the #139 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Mission Viejo, check out:
Mission Viejo Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Mission Viejo. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Mission Viejo is 112.
The Groceries index in Mission Viejo is 116.
The Health index in Mission Viejo is 360.
The Housing index in Mission Viejo is 118.
The Transportation index in Mission Viejo is 118.
The Utilities index in Mission Viejo is 121.
| Living Expense | Mission Viejo | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 190 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 360 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 121 | 121 | 100 |
Mission Viejo 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 Mission Viejo Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Mission Viejo, 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 Mission Viejo is $1,229,743.
The Median Rent in Mission Viejo is $2,839.
The Median Income in Mission Viejo is $136,123.
The Home Value To Income in Mission Viejo is 9.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Mission Viejo is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Mission Viejo | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,229,743 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,839 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $136,123 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Mission Viejo, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Mission Viejo Services costs vs. California
| Item | Mission Viejo | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.34 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.04 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.11 | $18 |
| Haircut | $27.27 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $41.78 | $45.56 |
Detailed Mission Viejo Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Mission Viejo | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.89 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.49 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.92 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.92 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.31 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.26 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed Mission Viejo Health costs vs. California
| Item | Mission Viejo | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Mission Viejo Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Mission Viejo | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Mission Viejo Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Mission Viejo | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Mission Viejo SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Mission Viejo
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Mission Viejo. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Irvine, CA has a cost of living index of 209, 1.1x Mission Viejo.
Orange, CA has a cost of living index of 176, 0.9x Mission Viejo.
Lake Forest, CA has a cost of living index of 182, 1.0x Mission Viejo.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Mission Viejo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irvine, CA | 311,690 | 209 | 1.1x |
| Orange, CA | 138,266 | 176 | 0.9x |
| Lake Forest, CA | 86,281 | 182 | 1.0x |
| Laguna Niguel, CA | 64,139 | 204 | 1.1x |
| Fountain Valley, CA | 56,258 | 188 | 1.0x |
| Aliso Viejo, CA | 51,113 | 175 | 0.9x |
| Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | 46,990 | 179 | 0.9x |
| San Juan Capistrano, CA | 35,095 | 184 | 1.0x |
| Laguna Hills, CA | 30,740 | 190 | 1.0x |
| North Tustin, CA | 25,807 | 212 | 1.1x |
