F
60%
Overall NAT. AVG.
21%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
159%
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 Lawndale California National
Cost of living160143100
Goods & Services121115100
Groceries109108100
Health care96103100
Housing259197100
Transportation138136100
Utilities109144100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Lawndale, CA

Knowing the cost of living in Lawndale 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 Lawndale stands at 160, marking it 60% higher than the national average.

The cost of living in Lawndale 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, Lawndale falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Lawndale, 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 159% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Everyday goods and services make up 33% of the cost of living index and include things like clothing, personal hygiene products and entertainment which are a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Unfortunately, Lawndale goods and services are 21% more expensive than the national average, leaving you with less money at the end of the month.

Is Lawndale Affordable?

Wondering if Lawndale is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Lawndale, for example, the median home price is 200.8% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 61.5% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Lawndale boasting a median household income of $98,564, which is 21.2% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Lawndale?

Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In Lawndale, the transportation index is 37.9% 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 Lawndale, the utilities index registers 8.9% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Lawndale, healthcare costs are 3.6% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Lawndale, 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.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Lawndale is 12% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Lawndale is 60% higher than the national average
  • Lawndale housing is 159% 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 Lawndale

See all the best places to live around Lawndale

Compare Lawndale, 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$149,589$12,466$3,490$4,488
      Renters$83,809$6,984$1,955$2,515
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Lawndale, 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 Lawndale, homeowners have a median income of $149,589. Using that number, a maximum of $3,490 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $83,809, which means there is a maximum of $1,955 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 Lawndale National avg. Difference
      Haircut $30.50$27.6210.4%
      Beauty Salon $103.42$51.11102.4%
      Toothpaste $4.01$4.092.0%
      Shampoo $1.58$1.542.5%
      Movie $19.57$12.8852.0%
      Yoga $25.22$19.6628.3%

      Groceries

      Item Lawndale National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.52$7.702.4%
      Fried Chicken $3.59$1.66116.0%
      Milk $5.05$4.736.7%
      Potatoes $4.84$5.267.9%
      Pizza $17.09$12.7633.9%
      Beer $11.22$10.556.4%

      Health Care

      Item Lawndale National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $164.27$140.0617.3%
      Doctor $132.64$153.8213.8%
      Dentist $133.17$123.158.1%
      Ibuprofen $12.21$11.734.1%
      Lipitor $17.86$23.6124.4%

      Housing

      Item Lawndale National avg. Difference
      Home Price $982,433.00$326,622.00200.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $6,403.73$2,480.25158.2%
      Apartment Rent $2,332.00$1,444.0061.5%

      Transportation

      Item Lawndale National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.48$3.0646.6%
      Tire Balancing $76.25$65.2116.9%

      Utilities

      Item Lawndale National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $251.64$220.1214.3%
      Phone $196.21$195.710.3%
      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, CA21811818.1%
      Vernon, CA25411818.0%
      Rolling Hills CDP, CA85513736.8%
      Willowbrook, CA25,34713736.8%
      East Rancho Dominguez, CA15,76513837.9%
      Lawndale, CA33,50816060.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      East Lake, FL33,51812423.8%
      College Park, MD33,47513130.7%
      Pekin, IL33,4688910.6%
      Saint-Georges, QC33,468n/a 
      La Verne, CA33,46016968.7%
      Lawndale, CA33,50816060.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.