What is the cost of living in Orange, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Orange has an overall cost of living index of 176, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Orange has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Orange ranks as #454 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Orange ranks as the #180 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Orange, check out:
Orange Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Orange. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Orange is 113.
The Groceries index in Orange is 118.
The Health index in Orange is 317.
The Housing index in Orange is 118.
The Transportation index in Orange is 119.
The Utilities index in Orange is 122.
| Living Expense | Orange | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 176 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 113 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 118 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 317 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 119 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 122 | 121 | 100 |
Orange 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 Orange Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Orange, 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 Orange is $1,143,787.
The Median Rent in Orange is $2,327.
The Median Income in Orange is $117,113.
The Home Value To Income in Orange is 9.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Orange is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Orange | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,143,787 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,327 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $117,113 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.8x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Orange, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Orange Services costs vs. California
| Item | Orange | 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 Orange Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Orange | 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 Orange Health costs vs. California
| Item | Orange | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Orange Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Orange | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Orange Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Orange | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Orange SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Orange
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Orange. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Anaheim, CA has a cost of living index of 168, 1.0x Orange.
Santa Ana, CA has a cost of living index of 161, 0.9x Orange.
Garden Grove, CA has a cost of living index of 167, 0.9x Orange.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim, CA | 344,521 | 168 | 1.0x |
| Santa Ana, CA | 312,534 | 161 | 0.9x |
| Garden Grove, CA | 170,964 | 167 | 0.9x |
| Mission Viejo, CA | 92,151 | 190 | 1.1x |
| Lake Forest, CA | 86,281 | 182 | 1.0x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 0.9x |
| Tustin, CA | 78,981 | 181 | 1.0x |
| Fountain Valley, CA | 56,258 | 188 | 1.1x |
| Placentia, CA | 52,826 | 173 | 1.0x |
| Aliso Viejo, CA | 51,113 | 175 | 1.0x |
