F
43%
Overall NAT. AVG.
16%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
106%
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 East Los Angeles California National
Cost of living143140100
Goods & Services116111100
Groceries112112100
Health care108109100
Housing206196100
Transportation124126100
Utilities112127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in East Los Angeles, CA

Getting a feel for the cost of living in East Los Angeles is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in East Los Angeles is 143, which is 43% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, East Los Angeles may not be your ideal choice, as it ranks among the most expensive locations in the entire United States. A very small amount of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, East Los Angeles falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in East Los Angeles, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 106.2% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, 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 East Los Angeles, these items will cost you 16.2% 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, East Los Angeles does not fare better, with grocery expenses coming in at 12.2% higher than the national average.

Is East Los Angeles Affordable?

Is East Los Angeles 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 East Los Angeles, for instance, where the median home price falls 142% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 22.8% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with East Los Angeles flaunting a median household income of $50,280, 9.1% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in East Los Angeles?

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 East Los Angeles, the housing index is 106.2% higher than the national average.

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 East Los Angeles, the utilities index registers 12.4% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In East Los Angeles, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 7.25%, and income tax rates start at 1%.

Where is the Data From?

The East Los Angeles 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. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in East Los Angeles is 2% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in East Los Angeles is 43% higher than the national average
  • East Los Angeles housing is 106% higher than the national average
  • California general sales tax is 42% higher than the national average
  • California state income tax is 56% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around East Los Angeles

See all the best places to live around East Los Angeles

Compare East Los Angeles, 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$72,476$6,040$1,691$2,174
      Renters$42,361$3,530$988$1,271
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in East Los Angeles, 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 East Los Angeles have a median income of $72,476. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,691 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $42,361, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $988.

      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% 12.3%

      Goods & Services

      Item East Los Angeles National avg. Difference
      Haircut $24.67$24.261.7%
      Beauty Salon $49.33$45.568.3%
      Toothpaste $3.76$3.701.5%
      Shampoo $1.41$1.289.8%
      Movie $13.46$12.1311.0%
      Bowling $19.07$18.006.0%

      Groceries

      Item East Los Angeles National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.26$5.847.2%
      Fried Chicken $2.08$1.5732.2%
      Milk $4.76$4.671.9%
      Potatoes $4.94$4.930.2%
      Pizza $16.13$12.0933.5%
      Beer $9.60$10.417.8%

      Health Care

      Item East Los Angeles National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $129.09$125.682.7%
      Doctor $119.86$135.7811.7%
      Dentist $108.07$113.294.6%
      Ibuprofen $10.36$10.652.7%
      Lipitor $505.41$468.607.9%

      Housing

      Item East Los Angeles National avg. Difference
      Home Price $446,900.00$184,700.00142.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,799.02$2,346.6919.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,165.00$949.0022.8%

      Transportation

      Item East Los Angeles National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.47$3.4629.3%
      Tire Balancing $58.33$59.922.6%

      Utilities

      Item East Los Angeles National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $326.49$193.9968.3%
      Phone $182.78$192.254.9%
      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%
      Industry, CA26413333.1%
      East Los Angeles, CA120,50414342.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Arvada, CO120,22913231.8%
      Ann Arbor, MI121,09312222.2%
      Allentown, PA121,156981.8%
      Vallejo, CA121,27514545.4%
      Terrebonne, QC119,135n/a 
      East Los Angeles, CA120,50414342.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.