F
37%
Overall NAT. AVG.
21%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
80%
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 Willowbrook California National
Cost of living137143100
Goods & Services121115100
Groceries109108100
Health care96103100
Housing180197100
Transportation138136100
Utilities109144100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Willowbrook, CA

Knowing the cost of living in Willowbrook 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 Willowbrook stands at 137, marking it 37% higher than the national average.

If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Willowbrook may not be your ideal choice, as it ranks among the most expensive locations in the entire United States. A very small amount of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Willowbrook falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Willowbrook, 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 80.4% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Recurring goods and services expenses like haircuts, toothpaste, gym memberships and movie nights are a big part of your spending and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Willowbrook, these items will cost you 21% more than what most folks pay, making it a bit more expensive to live here.

Is Willowbrook Affordable?

Is Willowbrook 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 Willowbrook, the median home price is 100.9% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 32.4% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Willowbrook come in at $65,986, which is 18.9% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Willowbrook?

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, including 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 farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.

Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Willowbrook, the transportation index is 37.9% higher than the national average.

Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Willowbrook, the housing index stands at 80.4% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Willowbrook cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Willowbrook is 5% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Willowbrook is 37% higher than the national average
  • Willowbrook housing is 80% 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 Willowbrook

See all the best places to live around Willowbrook

Compare Willowbrook, 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$102,067$8,506$2,381$3,062
      Renters$42,073$3,506$982$1,262
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Willowbrook is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Willowbrook has a median income of about $102,067 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,381 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $42,073. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $982 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Willowbrook 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 Willowbrook 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 Willowbrook 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 Willowbrook National avg. Difference
      Home Price $656,219.00$326,622.00100.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $6,403.73$2,480.25158.2%
      Apartment Rent $1,912.00$1,444.0032.4%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Willowbrook 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%
      East Rancho Dominguez, CA15,76513837.9%
      Florence-Graham, CA66,60313939.1%
      Willowbrook, CA25,34713736.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Denison, TX25,3498613.8%
      Candler-McAfee, GA25,351973.2%
      Candiac, QC25,341n/a 
      Westmont, IL25,35612121.2%
      Inkster, MI25,3338614.5%
      Willowbrook, CA25,34713736.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.