What is the cost of living in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Rancho Santa Margarita has an overall cost of living index of 179, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Rancho Santa Margarita has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Rancho Santa Margarita ranks as #467 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Rancho Santa Margarita ranks as the #167 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Rancho Santa Margarita, check out:
Rancho Santa Margarita Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Rancho Santa Margarita. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Rancho Santa Margarita is 111.
The Groceries index in Rancho Santa Margarita is 116.
The Health index in Rancho Santa Margarita is 323.
The Housing index in Rancho Santa Margarita is 120.
The Transportation index in Rancho Santa Margarita is 118.
The Utilities index in Rancho Santa Margarita is 119.
| Living Expense | Rancho Santa Margarita | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 179 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 323 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 120 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 121 | 100 |
Rancho Santa Margarita 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 Rancho Santa Margarita Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Rancho Santa Margarita, 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 Rancho Santa Margarita is $1,029,345.
The Median Rent in Rancho Santa Margarita is $2,625.
The Median Income in Rancho Santa Margarita is $152,560.
The Home Value To Income in Rancho Santa Margarita is 6.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Rancho Santa Margarita is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Rancho Santa Margarita | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,029,345 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,625 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $152,560 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.7x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Rancho Santa Margarita Services costs vs. California
| Item | Rancho Santa Margarita | 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 Rancho Santa Margarita Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Rancho Santa Margarita | 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 Rancho Santa Margarita Health costs vs. California
| Item | Rancho Santa Margarita | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Rancho Santa Margarita Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Rancho Santa Margarita | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Rancho Santa Margarita Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Rancho Santa Margarita | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Rancho Santa Margarita SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Rancho Santa Margarita
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Rancho Santa Margarita. 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, 1.2x Rancho Santa Margarita.
Orange, CA has a cost of living index of 176, 1.0x Rancho Santa Margarita.
Mission Viejo, CA has a cost of living index of 190, 1.1x Rancho Santa Margarita.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Rancho Santa Margarita |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irvine, CA | 311,690 | 209 | 1.2x |
| Orange, CA | 138,266 | 176 | 1.0x |
| Mission Viejo, CA | 92,151 | 190 | 1.1x |
| Lake Forest, CA | 86,281 | 182 | 1.0x |
| Laguna Niguel, CA | 64,139 | 204 | 1.1x |
| Aliso Viejo, CA | 51,113 | 175 | 1.0x |
| San Juan Capistrano, CA | 35,095 | 184 | 1.0x |
| Laguna Hills, CA | 30,740 | 190 | 1.1x |
| North Tustin, CA | 25,807 | 212 | 1.2x |
| Ladera Ranch, CA | 23,793 | 204 | 1.1x |
