What is the cost of living in South Gate, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, South Gate has an overall cost of living index of 145, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, South Gate has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in South Gate ranks as #267 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies South Gate ranks as the #367 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in South Gate, check out:
South Gate Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South Gate. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in South Gate is 113.
The Groceries index in South Gate is 113.
The Health index in South Gate is 208.
The Housing index in South Gate is 121.
The Transportation index in South Gate is 120.
The Utilities index in South Gate is 117.
| Living Expense | South Gate | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 145 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 113 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 208 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 117 | 121 | 100 |
South Gate 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 Gate Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
South Gate, 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 Gate is $700,783.
The Median Rent in South Gate is $1,531.
The Median Income in South Gate is $74,571.
The Home Value To Income in South Gate is 9.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in South Gate is 0.25x.
| Statistic | South Gate | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $700,783 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,531 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $74,571 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
South Gate, CA Costs By Category
Detailed South Gate Services costs vs. California
| Item | South Gate | 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 Gate Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | South Gate | 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 Gate Health costs vs. California
| Item | South Gate | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed South Gate Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | South Gate | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed South Gate Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | South Gate | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
South Gate SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around South Gate
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around South Gate. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Lakewood, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 1.1x South Gate.
Lynwood, CA has a cost of living index of 144, 1.0x South Gate.
Florence-Graham, CA has a cost of living index of 140, 1.0x South Gate.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. South Gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 1.1x |
| Lynwood, CA | 64,578 | 144 | 1.0x |
| Florence-Graham, CA | 60,690 | 140 | 1.0x |
| Huntington Park, CA | 53,108 | 142 | 1.0x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 1.2x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 1.2x |
| Bell Gardens, CA | 38,229 | 138 | 1.0x |
| Bell, CA | 32,476 | 141 | 1.0x |
| Maywood, CA | 24,317 | 140 | 1.0x |
| West Puente Valley, CA | 22,495 | 148 | 1.0x |
