What is the cost of living in Torrance, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Torrance has an overall cost of living index of 196, which is 2.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Torrance has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Torrance ranks as #514 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Torrance ranks as the #120 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Torrance, check out:
Torrance Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Torrance. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Torrance is 111.
The Groceries index in Torrance is 119.
The Health index in Torrance is 372.
The Housing index in Torrance is 120.
The Transportation index in Torrance is 123.
The Utilities index in Torrance is 128.
| Living Expense | Torrance | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 196 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 119 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 372 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 120 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 123 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 128 | 121 | 100 |
Torrance 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 Torrance Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Torrance, 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 Torrance is $1,124,931.
The Median Rent in Torrance is $2,280.
The Median Income in Torrance is $116,217.
The Home Value To Income in Torrance is 9.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Torrance is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Torrance | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,124,931 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,280 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $116,217 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.7x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Torrance, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Torrance Services costs vs. California
| Item | Torrance | 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 Torrance Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Torrance | 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 Torrance Health costs vs. California
| Item | Torrance | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed Torrance Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Torrance | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Torrance Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Torrance | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
Torrance SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Torrance
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Torrance. 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, 0.8x Torrance.
Redondo Beach, CA has a cost of living index of 213, 1.1x Torrance.
Gardena, CA has a cost of living index of 155, 0.8x Torrance.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Torrance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 0.8x |
| Redondo Beach, CA | 69,291 | 213 | 1.1x |
| Gardena, CA | 59,422 | 155 | 0.8x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 0.9x |
| Cerritos, CA | 47,867 | 185 | 0.9x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 0.9x |
| Manhattan Beach, CA | 34,210 | 340 | 1.7x |
| Lawndale, CA | 30,781 | 159 | 0.8x |
| West Whittier-Los Nietos, CA | 25,615 | 150 | 0.8x |
| West Carson, CA | 22,143 | 154 | 0.8x |
