What is the cost of living in Seal Beach, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Seal Beach has an overall cost of living index of 151, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Seal Beach has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Seal Beach ranks as #306 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Seal Beach ranks as the #328 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Seal Beach, check out:
Seal Beach Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Seal Beach. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Seal Beach is 111.
The Groceries index in Seal Beach is 117.
The Health index in Seal Beach is 226.
The Housing index in Seal Beach is 116.
The Transportation index in Seal Beach is 119.
The Utilities index in Seal Beach is 118.
| Living Expense | Seal Beach | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 151 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 226 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 119 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 118 | 121 | 100 |
Seal Beach 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 Seal Beach Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Seal Beach, 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 Seal Beach is $848,898.
The Median Rent in Seal Beach is $2,649.
The Median Income in Seal Beach is $85,964.
The Home Value To Income in Seal Beach is 9.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Seal Beach is 0.37x.
| Statistic | Seal Beach | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $848,898 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,649 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $85,964 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.9x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.37x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Seal Beach, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Seal Beach Services costs vs. California
| Item | Seal Beach | 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 Seal Beach Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Seal Beach | 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 Seal Beach Health costs vs. California
| Item | Seal Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Seal Beach Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Seal Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Seal Beach Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Seal Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Seal Beach SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Seal Beach
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Seal Beach. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Long Beach, CA has a cost of living index of 163, 1.1x Seal Beach.
Huntington Beach, CA has a cost of living index of 194, 1.3x Seal Beach.
Westminster, CA has a cost of living index of 171, 1.1x Seal Beach.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Seal Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Beach, CA | 455,548 | 163 | 1.1x |
| Huntington Beach, CA | 195,240 | 194 | 1.3x |
| Westminster, CA | 89,860 | 171 | 1.1x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 1.1x |
| Yorba Linda, CA | 67,170 | 203 | 1.3x |
| Placentia, CA | 52,826 | 173 | 1.1x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 1.2x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 1.1x |
| Stanton, CA | 39,402 | 145 | 1.0x |
| North Tustin, CA | 25,807 | 212 | 1.4x |
