| Index | Santa Ana | California | National |
| Cost of living | 161 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 117 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 258 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 124 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 127 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 113 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 130 | 127 | 100 |
The cost of living in Santa Ana affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Santa Ana is 161, which is 61% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
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 Santa Ana 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, Santa Ana falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Santa Ana cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 157.5% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.
Recurring household expenses such as cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, toiletries, and kitchen basics are a steady part of monthly spending and make up 8% of the cost of living index. In Santa Ana, these everyday items will cost you 12.9% more than average, making it a slightly more expensive place to call home.
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 Santa Ana is even less favorable, with grocery prices here being 15.2% 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 Santa Ana. The feedback revealed that 30% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 70% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.
Is Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana, the median home price is 195% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 70.1% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Santa Ana boasting a median household income of $105,898, 30.2% higher than the national average.
Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Santa Ana, the housing index is 157.5% higher than the national average.
Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Santa Ana, the utilities index stands at 24.1% higher than the national average.
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 Santa Ana, the transportation index is 17.4% higher than the national average.
The cost of living data for Santa Ana shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| 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 | $141,190 | $11,766 | $3,294 | $4,236 |
| Renters | $88,292 | $7,358 | $2,060 | $2,649 |
| 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% |
| Hawaiian Gardens, CA | 14,656 | 142 | 42.3% |
| Stanton, CA | 39,110 | 146 | 46.2% |
| Seal Beach, CA | 25,208 | 149 | 49.1% |
| Santa Ana, CA | 345,160 | 161 | 60.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 338,491 | 98 | 2.3% |
| Riverside, CA | 334,324 | 140 | 40.4% |
| Honolulu, HI | 358,765 | 189 | 89.0% |
| Markham, ON | 359,111 | n/a | |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 329,532 | 100 | 0.5% |
| Santa Ana, CA | 345,160 | 161 | 60.9% |
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