| Index | Brea | California | National |
| Cost of living | 178 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 108 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 112 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 331 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 113 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 107 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 123 | 127 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Brea? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Brea stands at 178, making it 78% 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 Brea 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, Brea falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.
Housing costs significantly influence the Brea cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 231.1%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
Is Brea 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 Brea, the median home price is 284.3% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 107.1% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Brea come in at $148,363, which is 82.4% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.
Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, including 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 farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.
Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Brea, the healthcare costs are 11.7% higher than the national average.
The cost of living data for Brea shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| 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 | $182,278 | $15,190 | $4,253 | $5,469 |
| Renters | $107,662 | $8,972 | $2,512 | $3,230 |
| 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% |
| Montclair, CA | 41,014 | 139 | 38.5% |
| Commerce, CA | 13,066 | 139 | 38.8% |
| Bell Gardens, CA | 42,827 | 139 | 39.0% |
| South San Jose Hills, CA | 19,654 | 142 | 42.0% |
| Brea, CA | 45,637 | 178 | 78.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Wake Forest, NC | 45,648 | 116 | 16.5% |
| Ashburn, VA | 45,717 | 149 | 49.3% |
| Burke, VA | 45,553 | 158 | 58.3% |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 45,771 | 139 | 38.7% |
| Cleveland Heights, OH | 45,821 | 92 | 8.1% |
| Brea, CA | 45,637 | 178 | 78.4% |
Here are the best places to live in California
Most Dangerous Cities In The US
Safest States In The US
Check out the 10 safest cities in California