F
53%
Overall NAT. AVG.
12%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
151%
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 Santa Ana California National
Cost of living153140100
Goods & Services112111100
Groceries113112100
Health care99109100
Housing251196100
Transportation124126100
Utilities94127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Santa Ana, CA

The cost of living in Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana is 153, which is 53% 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 affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Santa Ana is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Santa Ana falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Santa Ana 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 150.7% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Everyday goods and services make up 33% of the cost of living index and include things like clothing, personal hygiene products and entertainment which are a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Unfortunately, Santa Ana goods and services are 12% more expensive than the national average, leaving you with less money at the end of the month.

The cost of groceries continues to rise at an alarming rate. Over the last two years, grocery prices have increased by more than 10%! Unfortunately, in Santa Ana, the news isn't any better as grocery prices are 13.1% higher than the national average.

Is Santa Ana Affordable?

Is Santa Ana an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Santa Ana is 184.7% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 71.3% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Santa Ana has a median household income of $72,406, which is 30.9% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Santa Ana?

Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Santa Ana, the transportation index is 23.9% higher than the national average.

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Santa Ana, the housing index is 150.7% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Santa Ana displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Santa Ana is 9% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Santa Ana is 53% higher than the national average
  • Santa Ana housing is 151% 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 Santa Ana

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Compare Santa Ana, 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$93,489$7,791$2,181$2,805
      Renters$58,812$4,901$1,372$1,765
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Santa Ana, CA, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Santa Ana homeowners, is $93,489. This would allow for a maximum of $2,181 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $58,812 which would result in a maximum of $1,372 to be spent on rental costs.

      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 Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana National avg. Difference
      Home Price $525,900.00$184,700.00184.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,441.43$2,346.694.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,626.00$949.0071.3%

      Transportation

      Item Santa Ana National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.75$3.4637.3%
      Tire Balancing $61.38$59.922.4%

      Utilities

      Item Santa Ana 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.
      Las Flores CDP (Tehama County), CA32411110.6%
      Laguna Woods, CA16,05613029.7%
      Hawaiian Gardens, CA14,21214040.1%
      Stanton, CA38,31714242.2%
      Seal Beach, CA24,26814444.2%
      Santa Ana, CA332,61015352.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Riverside, CA327,56913635.6%
      Corpus Christi, TX326,332945.8%
      Lexington-Fayette, KY322,2001011.2%
      Vaughan, ON321,974n/a 
      Honolulu, HI347,18118585.4%
      Santa Ana, CA332,61015352.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.