What is the cost of living in South Whittier, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, South Whittier has an overall cost of living index of 156, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, South Whittier has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in South Whittier ranks as #340 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies South Whittier ranks as the #294 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in South Whittier, check out:
South Whittier Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South Whittier. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in South Whittier is 113.
The Groceries index in South Whittier is 114.
The Health index in South Whittier is 245.
The Housing index in South Whittier is 119.
The Transportation index in South Whittier is 120.
The Utilities index in South Whittier is 121.
| Living Expense | South Whittier | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 156 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 113 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 245 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 119 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 121 | 121 | 100 |
South Whittier 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 Whittier Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
South Whittier, 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 Whittier is $746,748.
The Median Rent in South Whittier is $1,908.
The Median Income in South Whittier is $100,800.
The Home Value To Income in South Whittier is 7.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in South Whittier is 0.23x.
| Statistic | South Whittier | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $746,748 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,908 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $100,800 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
South Whittier, CA Costs By Category
Detailed South Whittier Services costs vs. California
| Item | South Whittier | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.34 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.04 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.11 | $18 |
| Haircut | $27.27 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $41.78 | $45.56 |
Detailed South Whittier Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | South Whittier | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.89 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.49 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.92 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.92 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.31 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.26 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed South Whittier Health costs vs. California
| Item | South Whittier | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed South Whittier Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | South Whittier | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed South Whittier Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | South Whittier | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
South Whittier SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around South Whittier
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around South Whittier. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Norwalk, CA has a cost of living index of 151, 1.0x South Whittier.
Whittier, CA has a cost of living index of 164, 1.1x South Whittier.
Lakewood, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 1.1x South Whittier.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. South Whittier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwalk, CA | 99,789 | 151 | 1.0x |
| Whittier, CA | 86,165 | 164 | 1.1x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 1.1x |
| La Habra, CA | 61,970 | 167 | 1.1x |
| Pico Rivera, CA | 60,272 | 149 | 1.0x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 1.1x |
| Cerritos, CA | 47,867 | 185 | 1.2x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 1.1x |
| North Tustin, CA | 25,807 | 212 | 1.4x |
| West Whittier-Los Nietos, CA | 25,615 | 150 | 1.0x |








