| Index | Anaheim | California | National |
| Cost of living | 167 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 118 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 281 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 121 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 123 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 111 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 136 | 127 | 100 |

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Anaheim? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Anaheim stands at 167, making it 67% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
The cost of living in Anaheim is among the highest in the country, making it a very expensive place to live. Only a small fraction of regions boast a cost of living that is at least 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Anaheim falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.
When it comes to the cost of living in Anaheim, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 180.7% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.
Household expenses account for 8% of the cost of living index and include the products people rely on every week, from toiletries and detergent to clothing and kitchen essentials. In Anaheim, household essentials are 10.8% more expensive than the U.S. average, which can leave less room in your monthly budget.
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 Anaheim, the news isn't any better as grocery prices are 11% higher than the national average.
Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 25 residents in Anaheim 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? 32% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 68% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.
Is Anaheim 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 Anaheim, for instance, where the median home price falls 224.4% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 78.9% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Anaheim flaunting a median household income of $116,044, 42.7% higher than the national norm.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Anaheim, the transportation index is 20% higher 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 Anaheim, the housing index is 180.7% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Anaheim, the groceries index registers 11% higher than the national average.
The Anaheim cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $168,530 | $14,044 | $3,932 | $5,056 |
| Renters | $85,794 | $7,150 | $2,002 | $2,574 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| California | 7.25% | 10.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| California | 1% | 13.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Industry, CA | 269 | 137 | 37.1% |
| Commerce, CA | 13,066 | 139 | 38.8% |
| Bell Gardens, CA | 42,827 | 139 | 39.0% |
| Paramount, CA | 55,175 | 141 | 40.7% |
| South San Jose Hills, CA | 19,654 | 142 | 42.0% |
| Anaheim, CA | 361,295 | 167 | 67.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Markham, ON | 359,111 | n/a | |
| Honolulu, HI | 358,765 | 189 | 89.0% |
| Santa Ana, CA | 345,160 | 161 | 60.9% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 338,491 | 98 | 2.3% |
| Riverside, CA | 334,324 | 140 | 40.4% |
| Anaheim, CA | 361,295 | 167 | 67.4% |