What is the cost of living in San Juan Capistrano, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, San Juan Capistrano has an overall cost of living index of 184, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, San Juan Capistrano has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in San Juan Capistrano ranks as #479 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies San Juan Capistrano ranks as the #155 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in San Juan Capistrano, check out:
San Juan Capistrano Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in San Juan Capistrano. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in San Juan Capistrano is 109.
The Groceries index in San Juan Capistrano is 113.
The Health index in San Juan Capistrano is 354.
The Housing index in San Juan Capistrano is 115.
The Transportation index in San Juan Capistrano is 118.
The Utilities index in San Juan Capistrano is 111.
| Living Expense | San Juan Capistrano | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 184 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 354 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 111 | 121 | 100 |
San Juan Capistrano 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 Juan Capistrano Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
San Juan Capistrano, 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 Juan Capistrano is $1,342,010.
The Median Rent in San Juan Capistrano is $2,438.
The Median Income in San Juan Capistrano is $129,457.
The Home Value To Income in San Juan Capistrano is 10.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in San Juan Capistrano is 0.23x.
| Statistic | San Juan Capistrano | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,342,010 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,438 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $129,457 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
San Juan Capistrano, CA Costs By Category
Detailed San Juan Capistrano Services costs vs. California
| Item | San Juan Capistrano | 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 Juan Capistrano Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | San Juan Capistrano | 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 Juan Capistrano Health costs vs. California
| Item | San Juan Capistrano | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed San Juan Capistrano Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | San Juan Capistrano | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed San Juan Capistrano Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | San Juan Capistrano | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
San Juan Capistrano SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around San Juan Capistrano
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around San Juan Capistrano. 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 San Juan Capistrano.
Mission Viejo, CA has a cost of living index of 190, 1.0x San Juan Capistrano.
Lake Forest, CA has a cost of living index of 182, 1.0x San Juan Capistrano.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. San Juan Capistrano |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irvine, CA | 311,690 | 209 | 1.1x |
| Mission Viejo, CA | 92,151 | 190 | 1.0x |
| Lake Forest, CA | 86,281 | 182 | 1.0x |
| Tustin, CA | 78,981 | 181 | 1.0x |
| Laguna Niguel, CA | 64,139 | 204 | 1.1x |
| San Clemente, CA | 63,273 | 206 | 1.1x |
| Aliso Viejo, CA | 51,113 | 175 | 1.0x |
| Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | 46,990 | 179 | 1.0x |
| Dana Point, CA | 32,790 | 208 | 1.1x |
| Laguna Hills, CA | 30,740 | 190 | 1.0x |








