What is the cost of living in Santa Monica, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Santa Monica has an overall cost of living index of 274, which is 2.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Santa Monica has a cost of living index that's 1.9x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Santa Monica ranks as #597 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Santa Monica ranks as the #37 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Santa Monica, check out:
Santa Monica Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Santa Monica. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Santa Monica is 114.
The Groceries index in Santa Monica is 124.
The Health index in Santa Monica is 624.
The Housing index in Santa Monica is 121.
The Transportation index in Santa Monica is 124.
The Utilities index in Santa Monica is 132.
| Living Expense | Santa Monica | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 274 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 114 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 124 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 624 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 124 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 132 | 121 | 100 |
Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Santa Monica, 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 Santa Monica is $1,703,947.
The Median Rent in Santa Monica is $2,402.
The Median Income in Santa Monica is $114,885.
The Home Value To Income in Santa Monica is 14.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Santa Monica is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Santa Monica | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,703,947 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,402 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $114,885 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 14.8x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Santa Monica, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Santa Monica Services costs vs. California
| Item | Santa Monica | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.41 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.46 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.07 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $49.33 | $45.56 |
Detailed Santa Monica Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Santa Monica | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.26 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.08 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $16.13 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.6 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.76 | $3.7 |
Detailed Santa Monica Health costs vs. California
| Item | Santa Monica | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed Santa Monica Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Santa Monica | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Santa Monica Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Santa Monica | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
Santa Monica SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Santa Monica
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Santa Monica. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Los Angeles, CA has a cost of living index of 179, 0.7x Santa Monica.
Torrance, CA has a cost of living index of 196, 0.7x Santa Monica.
Inglewood, CA has a cost of living index of 160, 0.6x Santa Monica.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Santa Monica |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 3,857,263 | 179 | 0.7x |
| Torrance, CA | 142,130 | 196 | 0.7x |
| Inglewood, CA | 104,569 | 160 | 0.6x |
| Redondo Beach, CA | 69,291 | 213 | 0.8x |
| Rancho Palos Verdes, CA | 40,864 | 243 | 0.9x |
| West Hollywood, CA | 34,884 | 182 | 0.7x |
| Beverly Hills, CA | 31,624 | 338 | 1.2x |
| South Pasadena, CA | 26,068 | 229 | 0.8x |
| San Fernando, CA | 23,632 | 151 | 0.6x |
| West Carson, CA | 22,143 | 154 | 0.6x |
