What is the cost of living in Tustin, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Tustin has an overall cost of living index of 181, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Tustin has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Tustin ranks as #472 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Tustin ranks as the #162 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Tustin, check out:
Tustin Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Tustin. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Tustin is 109.
The Groceries index in Tustin is 116.
The Health index in Tustin is 332.
The Housing index in Tustin is 121.
The Transportation index in Tustin is 121.
The Utilities index in Tustin is 126.
| Living Expense | Tustin | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 181 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 332 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 121 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 126 | 121 | 100 |
Tustin 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 Tustin Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Tustin, 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 Tustin is $1,189,730.
The Median Rent in Tustin is $2,449.
The Median Income in Tustin is $112,503.
The Home Value To Income in Tustin is 10.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Tustin is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Tustin | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,189,730 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,449 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $112,503 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.6x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Tustin, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Tustin Services costs vs. California
| Item | Tustin | 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 Tustin Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Tustin | 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 Tustin Health costs vs. California
| Item | Tustin | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Tustin Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Tustin | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Tustin Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Tustin | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Tustin SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Tustin
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Tustin. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Anaheim, CA has a cost of living index of 168, 0.9x Tustin.
Santa Ana, CA has a cost of living index of 161, 0.9x Tustin.
Irvine, CA has a cost of living index of 209, 1.2x Tustin.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Tustin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim, CA | 344,521 | 168 | 0.9x |
| Santa Ana, CA | 312,534 | 161 | 0.9x |
| Irvine, CA | 311,690 | 209 | 1.2x |
| Garden Grove, CA | 170,964 | 167 | 0.9x |
| Orange, CA | 138,266 | 176 | 1.0x |
| Costa Mesa, CA | 110,330 | 198 | 1.1x |
| Mission Viejo, CA | 92,151 | 190 | 1.0x |
| Lake Forest, CA | 86,281 | 182 | 1.0x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 0.9x |
| Fountain Valley, CA | 56,258 | 188 | 1.0x |
