F
91%
Overall NAT. AVG.
16%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
265%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
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 Glendale California National
Cost of living191140100
Goods & Services116111100
Groceries112112100
Health care108109100
Housing365196100
Transportation124126100
Utilities112127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Glendale, CA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Glendale? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Glendale stands at 191, making it 91% 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.

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

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Glendale 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 265.4% 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 Glendale, you can expect to pay 16.2% more than average for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

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 Glendale, the news isn't any better as grocery prices are 12.2% higher than the national average.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Glendale?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 21 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Glendale and this is how they responded. 52% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 48% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Glendale Affordable?

Is Glendale affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Glendale, the median home price is 344.8% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 80.3% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Glendale boasting a median household income of $70,596, 27.6% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Glendale?

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.

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 Glendale, the transportation index is 24.3% higher than the national average.

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Glendale, the housing index comes in at 265.4% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Glendale, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

New Real Estate Listings in Glendale Area
Search Homes for Sale in Glendale, CA

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Glendale is 37% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Glendale is 91% higher than the national average
  • Glendale housing is 265% 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 Glendale

See all the best places to live around Glendale

Compare Glendale, CA Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in Glendale?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Glendale?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Glendale poll results

      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$122,521$10,210$2,859$3,676
      Renters$51,897$4,325$1,211$1,557
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Glendale, CA, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Glendale, homeowners have a median income of $122,521. Using that number, a maximum of $2,859 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $51,897, which means there is a maximum of $1,211 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 Glendale 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 Glendale 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 Glendale 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 Glendale National avg. Difference
      Home Price $821,500.00$184,700.00344.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,799.02$2,346.6919.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,711.00$949.0080.3%

      Transportation

      Item Glendale National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.47$3.4629.3%
      Tire Balancing $58.33$59.922.6%

      Utilities

      Item Glendale 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.
      Westside, CA21311615.6%
      Vernon, CA24811717.0%
      Florence-Graham, CA64,78713736.5%
      Bell Gardens, CA41,77013939.0%
      Huntington Park, CA57,76114040.3%
      Glendale, CA199,35719190.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Aurora, IL199,3261055.2%
      Grand Rapids, MI199,417927.7%
      Amarillo, TX199,2258910.9%
      Montgomery, AL199,0548812.2%
      Huntington Beach, CA199,77818787.4%
      Glendale, CA199,35719190.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.