F
44%
Overall NAT. AVG.
12%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
123%
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 Seal Beach California National
Cost of living144140100
Goods & Services112111100
Groceries113112100
Health care99109100
Housing223196100
Transportation124126100
Utilities94127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Seal Beach, CA

Understanding the cost of living in Seal Beach can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Seal Beach cost of living index is 144, which is 44% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Seal Beach 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, Seal Beach falls within this bracket.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Seal Beach cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 122.5% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Goods and services make up 33% of the total cost of living index score and are a large part of your everyday expenses. These items could include things like haircuts, salons, toothpaste, shampoo, clothes, movies, bowling, gym memberships or yoga. In Seal Beach, you can expect to pay 12% more than average for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

Groceries are getting more expensive by the day and the cost of groceries makes up 13% of the overall cost of living index. In the past two years, prices have shot up by over 10%! Unfortunately, in Seal Beach, it's the same story – grocery costs are 13.1% higher than what people pay across the country.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Seal Beach?

Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 6 residents in Seal Beach to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 33% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 67% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.

Is Seal Beach Affordable?

Is Seal Beach an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Seal Beach, the median home price is 126.2% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 114% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Seal Beach come in at $72,596, which is 31.2% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Seal Beach?

Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

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 Seal Beach, the housing index is 122.5% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Seal Beach cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors 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 Seal Beach is 3% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Seal Beach is 44% higher than the national average
  • Seal Beach housing is 123% 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 Seal Beach

See all the best places to live around Seal Beach

Compare Seal Beach, 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$67,035$5,586$1,564$2,011
      Renters$87,449$7,287$2,040$2,624
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Seal Beach, CA, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Seal Beach have a median income of $67,035. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,564 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $87,449, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $2,040.

      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 Seal Beach 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 Seal Beach 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 Seal Beach 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 Seal Beach National avg. Difference
      Home Price $417,700.00$184,700.00126.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,441.43$2,346.694.0%
      Apartment Rent $2,031.00$949.00114.0%

      Transportation

      Item Seal Beach National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.75$3.4637.3%
      Tire Balancing $61.38$59.922.4%

      Utilities

      Item Seal Beach 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.
      Willowbrook, CA24,40113333.3%
      Compton, CA95,80413636.2%
      Florence-Graham, CA64,78713736.5%
      East Rancho Dominguez, CA15,25213736.7%
      Paramount, CA53,94913938.9%
      Seal Beach, CA24,26814444.2%

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      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Bridgeton, NJ24,264945.9%
      Elmwood Park, IL24,27411414.4%
      San Benito, TX24,2597327.0%
      San Fernando, CA24,24414847.7%
      Harvey, IL24,2959010.1%
      Seal Beach, CA24,26814444.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.