What is the cost of living in West Carson, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, West Carson has an overall cost of living index of 154, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, West Carson has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in West Carson ranks as #327 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies West Carson ranks as the #307 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in West Carson, check out:
West Carson Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in West Carson. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in West Carson is 111.
The Groceries index in West Carson is 118.
The Health index in West Carson is 243.
The Housing index in West Carson is 121.
The Transportation index in West Carson is 120.
The Utilities index in West Carson is 124.
| Living Expense | West Carson | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 154 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 118 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 243 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 124 | 121 | 100 |
West Carson 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 West Carson Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
West Carson, 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 West Carson is $727,138.
The Median Rent in West Carson is $1,891.
The Median Income in West Carson is $92,775.
The Home Value To Income in West Carson is 7.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in West Carson is 0.24x.
| Statistic | West Carson | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $727,138 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,891 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $92,775 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.8x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
West Carson, CA Costs By Category
Detailed West Carson Services costs vs. California
| Item | West Carson | 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 West Carson Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | West Carson | 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 West Carson Health costs vs. California
| Item | West Carson | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed West Carson Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | West Carson | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed West Carson Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | West Carson | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
West Carson SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around West Carson
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around West Carson. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Torrance, CA has a cost of living index of 196, 1.3x West Carson.
Carson, CA has a cost of living index of 156, 1.0x West Carson.
Lakewood, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 1.1x West Carson.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. West Carson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torrance, CA | 142,130 | 196 | 1.3x |
| Carson, CA | 92,871 | 156 | 1.0x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 1.1x |
| Redondo Beach, CA | 69,291 | 213 | 1.4x |
| Gardena, CA | 59,422 | 155 | 1.0x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 1.2x |
| Cerritos, CA | 47,867 | 185 | 1.2x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 1.1x |
| Lawndale, CA | 30,781 | 159 | 1.0x |
| West Whittier-Los Nietos, CA | 25,615 | 150 | 1.0x |
