| Index | Mission Viejo | California | National |
| Cost of living | 190 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 114 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 362 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 119 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 117 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 123 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 112 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 125 | 127 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Mission Viejo 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 Mission Viejo stands at 190, marking it 90% higher than the national average.
If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Mission Viejo is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Mission Viejo falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Mission Viejo 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 261.7% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
Everyday household expenses like cleaning products, laundry detergent, toiletries, and kitchen basics can quickly add up over time and make up 8% of the cost of living index. In Mission Viejo, you can expect to spend 11.7% more than average on these recurring essentials, which increases your overall monthly cost of living.
The substantial and relentless rise in grocery prices definitely warrants some attention. Over the past two years, grocery expenses have escalated by more than 10%. Having said that, the situation in Mission Viejo is even less favorable, with grocery prices here being 10.7% higher than the national average.
The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 10 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Mission Viejo. The feedback revealed that 80% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 20% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.
Is Mission Viejo 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 Mission Viejo, the median home price is 312.3% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 143.5% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Mission Viejo come in at $180,910, which is 122.4% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from 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 crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.
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 Mission Viejo, the housing index is 261.7% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.
The Mission Viejo cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
| 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 | $201,162 | $16,764 | $4,693 | $6,035 |
| Renters | $129,479 | $10,790 | $3,021 | $3,885 |
| 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. |
| Las Flores CDP (Tehama County), CA | 335 | 116 | 16.5% |
| Laguna Woods, CA | 16,656 | 135 | 34.5% |
| Temescal Valley, CA | 29,022 | 158 | 58.0% |
| Santa Ana, CA | 345,160 | 161 | 60.9% |
| Orange, CA | 144,054 | 178 | 78.4% |
| Mission Viejo, CA | 98,783 | 190 | 90.0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Compton, CA | 98,731 | 139 | 38.7% |
| Brockton, MA | 98,714 | 126 | 25.9% |
| Albany, NY | 99,012 | 109 | 8.9% |
| Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC | 99,027 | n/a | |
| Hesperia, CA | 98,419 | 123 | 22.5% |
| Mission Viejo, CA | 98,783 | 190 | 90.0% |
Here are the best places to live in California
Safest Cities In The US
These are the largest cities in California
Check out the 10 most dangerous cities in California