South Lake Tahoe, CA Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In South Lake Tahoe, CA Summary
Cost of living in South Lake Tahoe research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means South Lake Tahoe is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in California, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in South Lake Tahoe is 128, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in South Lake Tahoe is 1.3x higher than the national average.
South Lake Tahoe ranks as the #170 cheapest in California out of 634.
South Lake Tahoe ranks as the #4,889 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in South Lake Tahoe is $645,985.
The median income in South Lake Tahoe is $73,940.
Table Of Contents
South Lake Tahoe's Overall Cost Of Living
Higher Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in South Lake Tahoe, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, South Lake Tahoe has an overall cost of living index of 128, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, South Lake Tahoe has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than California's index of 141.
The standard of living in South Lake Tahoe ranks as #170 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies South Lake Tahoe ranks as the #464 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in South Lake Tahoe, check out:
In California
In America
South Lake Tahoe Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South Lake Tahoe. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in South Lake Tahoe is 101.
The Groceries index in South Lake Tahoe is 101.
The Health index in South Lake Tahoe is 97.
The Housing index in South Lake Tahoe is 195.
The Transportation index in South Lake Tahoe is 123.
The Utilities index in South Lake Tahoe is 90.
| Living Expense | South Lake Tahoe | California | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 128 | 141 | 100 | |
| Services | 101 | 110 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 101 | 112 | 100 | |
| Health | 97 | 110 | 100 | |
| Housing | 195 | 195 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 123 | 125 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 90 | 128 | 100 | |
South Lake Tahoe, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in South Lake Tahoe is $645,985.
The Median Rent in South Lake Tahoe is $1,467.
The Median Income in South Lake Tahoe is $73,940.
The Home Value To Income in South Lake Tahoe is 8.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in South Lake Tahoe is 0.24x.
| Statistic | South Lake Tahoe | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $645,985 | $763,287 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,467 | $1,956 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $73,940 | $96,334 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.7x | 7.9x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.24x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
South Lake Tahoe, CA Costs By Category
Detailed South Lake Tahoe Services Costs Vs. California
| Item | South Lake Tahoe | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.37 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.0 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.95 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.78 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $42.67 | $45.56 |
Detailed South Lake Tahoe Groceries Costs Vs. California
| Item | South Lake Tahoe | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.87 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.87 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.6 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.57 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.67 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.41 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed South Lake Tahoe Health Costs Vs. California
| Item | South Lake Tahoe | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $115.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $129.11 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.11 | $113.29 |
Detailed South Lake Tahoe Transportation Costs Vs. California
| Item | South Lake Tahoe | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.4 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $66.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed South Lake Tahoe Utilities Costs Vs. California
| Item | South Lake Tahoe | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $171.07 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.8 | $192.25 |
South Lake Tahoe SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around South Lake Tahoe
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around South Lake Tahoe. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Alpine, CA has a cost of living index of 168, 1.3x South Lake Tahoe.
Gardnerville Ranchos, NV has a cost of living index of 122, 1.0x South Lake Tahoe.
Johnson Lane, NV has a cost of living index of 140, 1.1x South Lake Tahoe.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. South Lake Tahoe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine, CA | 15,470 | 168 | 1.3x |
| Gardnerville Ranchos, NV | 12,185 | 122 | 1.0x |
| Johnson Lane, NV | 6,405 | 140 | 1.1x |
| Gardnerville, NV | 5,811 | 117 | 0.9x |
| Indian Hills, NV | 5,772 | 120 | 0.9x |
