| Index | Whittier | California | National |
| Cost of living | 165 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 117 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 277 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 122 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 123 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 112 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 125 | 127 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Whittier 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 Whittier stands at 165, marking it 65% higher than the national average.
If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Whittier may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Whittier falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Whittier 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 177.5% 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 Whittier, these everyday items will cost you 11.8% more than average, making it a slightly more expensive place to call home.
The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 6 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Whittier. The feedback revealed that 33% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 67% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.
Is Whittier 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 Whittier, the median home price is 232.3% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 49.5% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Whittier come in at $114,290, which is 40.5% 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 Whittier, the housing index is 177.5% higher than the national average.
Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Whittier, the transportation index stands at 17.9% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.
The Whittier 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 | $151,153 | $12,596 | $3,527 | $4,535 |
| Renters | $67,686 | $5,641 | $1,579 | $2,031 |
| 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. |
| Vernon, CA | 254 | 117 | 16.8% |
| 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% |
| Whittier, CA | 86,613 | 165 | 65.0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Santa Fe, NM | 86,648 | 111 | 11.1% |
| Trenton, NJ | 86,528 | 99 | 1.0% |
| Merced, CA | 86,383 | 121 | 21.5% |
| New Braunfels, TX | 86,374 | 108 | 7.6% |
| Lake Forest, CA | 86,858 | 181 | 80.5% |
| Whittier, CA | 86,613 | 165 | 65.0% |
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