What is the cost of living in San Clemente, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, San Clemente has an overall cost of living index of 206, which is 2.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, San Clemente has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in San Clemente ranks as #538 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies San Clemente ranks as the #96 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in San Clemente, check out:
San Clemente Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in San Clemente. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in San Clemente is 110.
The Groceries index in San Clemente is 114.
The Health index in San Clemente is 419.
The Housing index in San Clemente is 123.
The Transportation index in San Clemente is 121.
The Utilities index in San Clemente is 119.
| Living Expense | San Clemente | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 206 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 419 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 123 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 121 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 121 | 100 |
San Clemente 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 San Clemente Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
San Clemente, 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 San Clemente is $1,721,005.
The Median Rent in San Clemente is $2,460.
The Median Income in San Clemente is $140,062.
The Home Value To Income in San Clemente is 12.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in San Clemente is 0.21x.
| Statistic | San Clemente | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,721,005 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,460 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $140,062 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 12.3x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
San Clemente, CA Costs By Category
Detailed San Clemente Services costs vs. California
| Item | San Clemente | 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 San Clemente Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | San Clemente | 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 San Clemente Health costs vs. California
| Item | San Clemente | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed San Clemente Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | San Clemente | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed San Clemente Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | San Clemente | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
San Clemente SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around San Clemente
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around San Clemente. 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, 1.0x San Clemente.
Mission Viejo, CA has a cost of living index of 190, 0.9x San Clemente.
Lake Forest, CA has a cost of living index of 182, 0.9x San Clemente.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. San Clemente |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irvine, CA | 311,690 | 209 | 1.0x |
| Mission Viejo, CA | 92,151 | 190 | 0.9x |
| Lake Forest, CA | 86,281 | 182 | 0.9x |
| Laguna Niguel, CA | 64,139 | 204 | 1.0x |
| Aliso Viejo, CA | 51,113 | 175 | 0.8x |
| Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | 46,990 | 179 | 0.9x |
| San Juan Capistrano, CA | 35,095 | 184 | 0.9x |
| Dana Point, CA | 32,790 | 208 | 1.0x |
| Laguna Hills, CA | 30,740 | 190 | 0.9x |
| Ladera Ranch, CA | 23,793 | 204 | 1.0x |
