What is the cost of living in South El Monte, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, South El Monte has an overall cost of living index of 146, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, South El Monte has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in South El Monte ranks as #275 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies South El Monte ranks as the #359 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in South El Monte, check out:
South El Monte Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South El Monte. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in South El Monte is 107.
The Groceries index in South El Monte is 117.
The Health index in South El Monte is 218.
The Housing index in South El Monte is 120.
The Transportation index in South El Monte is 122.
The Utilities index in South El Monte is 117.
| Living Expense | South El Monte | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 146 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 218 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 120 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 122 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 117 | 121 | 100 |
South El Monte 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 South El Monte Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
South El Monte, 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 South El Monte is $762,159.
The Median Rent in South El Monte is $1,752.
The Median Income in South El Monte is $72,990.
The Home Value To Income in South El Monte is 10.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in South El Monte is 0.29x.
| Statistic | South El Monte | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $762,159 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,752 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $72,990 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.29x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
South El Monte, CA Costs By Category
Detailed South El Monte Services costs vs. California
| Item | South El Monte | 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 South El Monte Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | South El Monte | 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 South El Monte Health costs vs. California
| Item | South El Monte | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed South El Monte Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | South El Monte | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed South El Monte Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | South El Monte | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
South El Monte SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around South El Monte
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around South El Monte. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
El Monte, CA has a cost of living index of 151, 1.0x South El Monte.
Lakewood, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 1.1x South El Monte.
Yorba Linda, CA has a cost of living index of 203, 1.4x South El Monte.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. South El Monte |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Monte, CA | 106,109 | 151 | 1.0x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 1.1x |
| Yorba Linda, CA | 67,170 | 203 | 1.4x |
| Montebello, CA | 61,045 | 156 | 1.1x |
| Rosemead, CA | 50,013 | 162 | 1.1x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 1.2x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 1.1x |
| San Gabriel, CA | 38,392 | 175 | 1.2x |
| La Verne, CA | 30,600 | 164 | 1.1x |
| West Puente Valley, CA | 22,495 | 148 | 1.0x |
