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 130, 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 142.
The standard of living in South Lake Tahoe ranks as #163 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies South Lake Tahoe ranks as the #471 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in South Lake Tahoe, check out:
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 fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in South Lake Tahoe is 103.
The Groceries index in South Lake Tahoe is 104.
The Health index in South Lake Tahoe is 198.
The Housing index in South Lake Tahoe is 103.
The Transportation index in South Lake Tahoe is 112.
The Utilities index in South Lake Tahoe is 98.
| Living Expense | South Lake Tahoe | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 130 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 198 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 121 | 100 |
South Lake Tahoe 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 Lake Tahoe Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in South Lake Tahoe is $653,680.
The Median Rent in South Lake Tahoe is $1,606.
The Median Income in South Lake Tahoe is $82,002.
The Home Value To Income in South Lake Tahoe is 8.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in South Lake Tahoe is 0.24x.
| Statistic | South Lake Tahoe | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $653,680 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,606 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $82,002 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
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
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 172, 1.3x South Lake Tahoe.
Gardnerville Ranchos, NV has a cost of living index of 122, 0.9x South Lake Tahoe.
Johnson Lane, NV has a cost of living index of 141, 1.1x South Lake Tahoe.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. South Lake Tahoe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine, CA | 15,180 | 172 | 1.3x |
| Gardnerville Ranchos, NV | 12,114 | 122 | 0.9x |
| Johnson Lane, NV | 6,467 | 141 | 1.1x |
| Indian Hills, NV | 5,527 | 124 | 1.0x |
| Gardnerville, NV | 5,486 | 118 | 0.9x |
