F
83%
Overall NAT. AVG.
12%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
253%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Los Alamitos California National
Cost of living183140100
Goods & Services112111100
Groceries113112100
Health care99109100
Housing353196100
Transportation124126100
Utilities94127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Los Alamitos, CA

The cost of living in Los Alamitos affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Los Alamitos is 183, which is 83% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Los Alamitos may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Los Alamitos falls within this bracket.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Los Alamitos cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 253.2% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

The things you purchase regularly, like clothes, haircuts, movie tickets and gym memberships, can make a big dent in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. Unfortunately in Los Alamitos, these items will cost you 12% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

The surge in grocery costs is indeed alarming, especially when groceries make up a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Over the past two years, there has been an inflation of over 10% in grocery prices. Unfortunately, Los Alamitos does not fare better, with grocery expenses coming in at 13.1% higher than the national average.

Is Los Alamitos Affordable?

Is Los Alamitos affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Los Alamitos, for instance, where the median home price falls 318.1% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 101.8% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Los Alamitos flaunting a median household income of $89,323, 61.5% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Los Alamitos?

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Los Alamitos, the utilities index registers 5.9% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Los Alamitos, healthcare costs are 1.2% lower than the national average.

Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Los Alamitos, the housing index is 253.2% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Los Alamitos cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Los Alamitos is 31% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Los Alamitos is 83% higher than the national average
  • Los Alamitos housing is 253% higher than the national average
  • California general sales tax is 42% higher than the national average
  • California state income tax is 61% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Los Alamitos

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Compare Los Alamitos, CA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$106,364$8,864$2,482$3,191
      Renters$69,020$5,752$1,610$2,071
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Los Alamitos, CA, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Los Alamitos, homeowners have a median income of $106,364. Using that number, a maximum of $2,482 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $69,020, which means there is a maximum of $1,610 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      California Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      California 7.25% 10.5%

      California Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      California 1% 13.3%

      Goods & Services

      Item Los Alamitos National avg. Difference
      Haircut $27.27$24.2612.4%
      Beauty Salon $41.78$45.568.3%
      Toothpaste $3.61$3.702.6%
      Shampoo $1.34$1.284.9%
      Movie $11.04$12.139.0%
      Bowling $21.11$18.0017.3%

      Groceries

      Item Los Alamitos National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.89$5.840.8%
      Fried Chicken $3.49$1.57121.9%
      Milk $4.92$4.675.4%
      Potatoes $4.92$4.930.3%
      Pizza $15.31$12.0926.6%
      Beer $10.26$10.411.4%

      Health Care

      Item Los Alamitos National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $112.92$125.6810.2%
      Doctor $95.50$135.7829.7%
      Dentist $117.28$113.293.5%
      Ibuprofen $10.58$10.650.7%
      Lipitor $521.17$468.6011.2%

      Housing

      Item Los Alamitos National avg. Difference
      Home Price $772,300.00$184,700.00318.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,441.43$2,346.694.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,915.00$949.00101.8%

      Transportation

      Item Los Alamitos National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.75$3.4637.3%
      Tire Balancing $61.38$59.922.4%

      Utilities

      Item Los Alamitos National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $378.97$193.9995.4%
      Phone $180.31$192.256.2%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Vernon, CA24811717.0%
      Willowbrook, CA24,40113333.3%
      Compton, CA95,80413636.2%
      Florence-Graham, CA64,78713736.5%
      East Rancho Dominguez, CA15,25213736.7%
      Los Alamitos, CA11,52118383.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lac Ste. Anne County, AB11,522n/a 
      Byram, MS11,519918.9%
      Branson, MO11,5269010.3%
      Hamilton Square, NJ11,52612322.7%
      Bacliff, TX11,513955.4%
      Los Alamitos, CA11,52118383.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.