| Index | Westminster | California | National |
| Cost of living | 171 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 116 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 300 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 121 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 117 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 127 | 127 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Westminster 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 Westminster stands at 171, marking it 71% 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 Westminster 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, Westminster 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 Westminster 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 199.9% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 8 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Westminster. The results indicated that 25% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 75% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.
Is Westminster 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 Westminster, the median home price is 252.5% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 77.2% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Westminster boasting a median household income of $101,589, 24.9% higher than the national average.
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 Westminster, the transportation index is 14.9% 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.
Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Westminster, the groceries index is 9.5% higher than the national average.
The Westminster cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as 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 | $146,129 | $12,177 | $3,409 | $4,384 |
| Renters | $60,777 | $5,065 | $1,418 | $1,823 |
| 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. |
| Willowbrook, CA | 25,347 | 136 | 36.0% |
| East Rancho Dominguez, CA | 15,765 | 136 | 36.3% |
| Florence-Graham, CA | 66,603 | 138 | 38.2% |
| Compton, CA | 98,731 | 139 | 38.7% |
| Bell Gardens, CA | 42,827 | 139 | 39.0% |
| Westminster, CA | 93,920 | 171 | 70.8% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Deltona, FL | 93,968 | 104 | 4.0% |
| Suffolk, VA | 93,841 | 116 | 16.1% |
| Santa Monica, CA | 93,745 | 273 | 173.3% |
| San Leandro, CA | 93,731 | 173 | 73.2% |
| Santa Barbara, CA | 94,185 | 225 | 124.6% |
| Westminster, CA | 93,920 | 171 | 70.8% |
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