South Lake Tahoe, CA Cost Of Living
South Lake Tahoe's Overall Cost Of Living
Higher Than The National Average
In California
In America
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 124 which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to only California, South Lake Tahoe has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than California's index of 140.
The standard of living in South Lake Tahoe ranks as #5,001 most affordable out of the 6,418 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies South Lake Tahoe ranks as the #1,417 most expensive place in the Golden State.
South Lake Tahoe Cost Of Living Vs. California
| Living Expense | South Lake Tahoe | California | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 124 | 140 | 100 | |
| Services | 108 | 112 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 113 | 113 | 100 | |
| Health | 113 | 115 | 100 | |
| Housing | 158 | 198 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 127 | 134 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 84 | 126 | 100 | |
South Lake Tahoe, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down the statistics around housing costs into more detail. It's also important to consider median household incomes to make apples-to-apples comparisons across locations.
Home and income come data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2014-2018.
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
| Statistic | South Lake Tahoe | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $425,700 | $538,500 | $229,800 |
| Median Rent | $1,092 | $1,586 | $1,096 |
| Median Income | $52,871 | $78,672 | $64,994 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.1x | 6.8x | 3.5x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.24x | 0.2x |
Detailed South Lake Tahoe Services Costs Vs. California
| Item | South Lake Tahoe | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.41 | $1.06 |
| Movie | $11.0 | $10.68 |
| Bowling | $18.8 | $14.67 |
Detailed South Lake Tahoe Groceries Costs Vs. California
| Item | South Lake Tahoe | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.54 | $4.22 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.58 | $1.39 |
| Milk | $2.93 | $2.05 |
Detailed South Lake Tahoe Health Costs Vs. California
| Item | South Lake Tahoe | California |
|---|---|---|
| Haircut | $21.7 | $18.62 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.13 | $39.05 |
| Toothpaste | $2.43 | $2.34 |
Detailed South Lake Tahoe Transportation Costs Vs. California
| Item | South Lake Tahoe | California |
|---|---|---|
| Potatoes | $3.02 | $3.29 |
| Pizza | $11.66 | $10.62 |
| Beer | $9.15 | $9.38 |
| Optometrist | $117.17 | $108.57 |
| Doctor | $155.0 | $116.17 |
| Dentist | $114.56 | $99.13 |
Detailed South Lake Tahoe Utilities Costs Vs. California
| Item | South Lake Tahoe | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $2.98 | $2.22 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.47 | $50.07 |
| All Electricity | $124.72 | $167.67 |
| Phone | $177.85 | $175.64 |
South Lake Tahoe SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around South Lake Tahoe
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. South Lake Tahoe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine, CA | 14,958 | 152 | 1.2x |
| Gardnerville Ranchos, NV | 11,432 | 110 | 0.9x |
| Indian Hills, NV | 6,173 | 111 | 0.9x |
| Johnson Lane, NV | 6,043 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Gardnerville, NV | 6,013 | 112 | 0.9x |
