What is the cost of living in Whittier, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Whittier has an overall cost of living index of 164, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Whittier has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Whittier ranks as #389 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Whittier ranks as the #245 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Whittier, check out:
Whittier Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Whittier. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Whittier is 110.
The Groceries index in Whittier is 118.
The Health index in Whittier is 277.
The Housing index in Whittier is 119.
The Transportation index in Whittier is 122.
The Utilities index in Whittier is 122.
| Living Expense | Whittier | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 164 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 118 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 277 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 119 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 122 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 122 | 121 | 100 |
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 Whittier Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 Whittier is $821,843.
The Median Rent in Whittier is $1,906.
The Median Income in Whittier is $97,201.
The Home Value To Income in Whittier is 8.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Whittier is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Whittier | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $821,843 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,906 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $97,201 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.5x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Whittier, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Whittier Services costs vs. California
| Item | Whittier | 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 Whittier Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Whittier | 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 Whittier Health costs vs. California
| Item | Whittier | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed Whittier Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Whittier | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Whittier Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Whittier | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
Whittier SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Whittier
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Whittier. 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, 1.0x Whittier.
La Habra, CA has a cost of living index of 167, 1.0x Whittier.
Pico Rivera, CA has a cost of living index of 149, 0.9x Whittier.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Whittier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 1.0x |
| La Habra, CA | 61,970 | 167 | 1.0x |
| Pico Rivera, CA | 60,272 | 149 | 0.9x |
| South Whittier, CA | 55,650 | 156 | 1.0x |
| Hacienda Heights, CA | 54,291 | 171 | 1.0x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 1.1x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 1.0x |
| North Tustin, CA | 25,807 | 212 | 1.3x |
| West Whittier-Los Nietos, CA | 25,615 | 150 | 0.9x |
| West Puente Valley, CA | 22,495 | 148 | 0.9x |
