What is the cost of living in Santee, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Santee has an overall cost of living index of 155, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Santee has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Santee ranks as #332 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Santee ranks as the #302 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Santee, check out:
Santee Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Santee. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Santee is 110.
The Groceries index in Santee is 114.
The Health index in Santee is 243.
The Housing index in Santee is 114.
The Transportation index in Santee is 120.
The Utilities index in Santee is 123.
| Living Expense | Santee | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 155 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 243 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 114 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 123 | 121 | 100 |
Santee 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 Santee Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Santee, 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 Santee is $803,481.
The Median Rent in Santee is $2,250.
The Median Income in Santee is $113,394.
The Home Value To Income in Santee is 7.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Santee is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Santee | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $803,481 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,250 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $113,394 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.1x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Santee, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Santee Services costs vs. California
| Item | Santee | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.5 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.89 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.92 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.77 | $45.56 |
Detailed Santee Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Santee | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.05 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.98 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.25 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed Santee Health costs vs. California
| Item | Santee | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $138.66 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $132.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $121.37 | $113.29 |
Detailed Santee Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Santee | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.68 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.4 | $59.92 |
Detailed Santee Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Santee | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.42 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Santee SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Santee
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Santee. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
San Diego, CA has a cost of living index of 175, 1.1x Santee.
El Cajon, CA has a cost of living index of 152, 1.0x Santee.
La Mesa, CA has a cost of living index of 161, 1.0x Santee.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Santee |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | 1,389,526 | 175 | 1.1x |
| El Cajon, CA | 104,449 | 152 | 1.0x |
| La Mesa, CA | 60,797 | 161 | 1.0x |
| Poway, CA | 48,713 | 179 | 1.2x |
| La Presa, CA | 34,962 | 145 | 0.9x |
| Lemon Grove, CA | 27,686 | 145 | 0.9x |
| Winter Gardens, CA | 22,131 | 149 | 1.0x |
| Rancho San Diego, CA | 21,272 | 172 | 1.1x |
| Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, CA | 19,765 | 171 | 1.1x |
| Coronado, CA | 19,015 | 300 | 1.9x |
