F
41%
Overall NAT. AVG.
18%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
94%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Home Gardens California National
Cost of living141143100
Goods & Services118115100
Groceries109108100
Health care93103100
Housing194197100
Transportation138136100
Utilities122144100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Home Gardens, CA

Knowing the cost of living in Home Gardens allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Home Gardens stands at 141, marking it 41% higher than the national average.

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

When it comes to the cost of living in Home Gardens, 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 94.2% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

Recurring essentials like haircuts, toothpaste, and entertainment, from movies to gym sessions, can really add up in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Home Gardens, you you will have to spend 17.6% more than average when compared to the typical prices for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

Is Home Gardens Affordable?

Is Home Gardens an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Home Gardens is 105.7% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 67.3% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Home Gardens has a median household income of $98,895, which is 21.6% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Home Gardens?

Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Home Gardens, the housing index stands at 94.2% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, 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 farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.

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 Home Gardens, the utilities index registers 21.9% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Home Gardens displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Home Gardens is 2% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Home Gardens is 41% higher than the national average
  • Home Gardens housing is 94% 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 Home Gardens

See all the best places to live around Home Gardens

Compare Home Gardens, CA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

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      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$104,066$8,672$2,428$3,122
      Renters$71,965$5,997$1,679$2,159
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Home Gardens, CA, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Home Gardens homeowners, is $104,066. This would allow for a maximum of $2,428 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $71,965 which would result in a maximum of $1,679 to be spent on rental costs.

      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 Home Gardens National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.92$27.622.5%
      Beauty Salon $92.22$51.1180.5%
      Toothpaste $3.93$4.094.0%
      Shampoo $1.58$1.542.5%
      Movie $17.39$12.8835.0%
      Yoga $31.33$19.6659.4%

      Groceries

      Item Home Gardens National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.34$7.704.7%
      Fried Chicken $3.37$1.66102.7%
      Milk $5.06$4.736.9%
      Potatoes $4.85$5.267.7%
      Pizza $16.13$12.7626.4%
      Beer $11.24$10.556.5%

      Health Care

      Item Home Gardens National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $160.00$140.0614.2%
      Doctor $131.67$153.8214.4%
      Dentist $125.75$123.152.1%
      Ibuprofen $12.24$11.734.3%
      Lipitor $17.53$23.6125.8%

      Housing

      Item Home Gardens National avg. Difference
      Home Price $671,826.00$326,622.00105.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $7,772.24$2,480.25213.4%
      Apartment Rent $2,416.00$1,444.0067.3%

      Transportation

      Item Home Gardens National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.48$3.0646.6%
      Tire Balancing $76.80$65.2117.8%

      Utilities

      Item Home Gardens National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $306.96$220.1239.5%
      Phone $182.71$195.716.6%
      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.
      Good Hope, CA8,75411919.4%
      Warm Springs, CA1,49612019.6%
      Meadowbrook, CA4,32012020.3%
      Mead Valley, CA21,26312827.8%
      Colton, CA55,95612828.2%
      Home Gardens, CA12,49214140.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Scotts Valley, CA12,49420099.7%
      Lake Tapps, WA12,49715353.4%
      Middle Valley, TN12,498955.1%
      Fulshear, TX12,48114242.1%
      Laurel, FL12,50412524.8%
      Home Gardens, CA12,49214140.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.