F
88%
Overall NAT. AVG.
21%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
252%
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 Cerritos California National
Cost of living188143100
Goods & Services121115100
Groceries109108100
Health care96103100
Housing352197100
Transportation138136100
Utilities109144100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Cerritos, CA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Cerritos? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Cerritos stands at 188, making it 88% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Cerritos 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, Cerritos falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Cerritos, 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 252.2% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Recurring essentials like haircuts, toothpaste, and entertainment, from movies to gym sessions, can really add up in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Cerritos, you you will have to spend 21% more than average when compared to the typical prices for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Cerritos?

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 Cerritos. The feedback revealed that 0% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 100% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Cerritos Affordable?

Wondering if Cerritos is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Cerritos, for example, the median home price is 293.5% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 155.7% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Cerritos boasting a median household income of $161,145, which is 98.1% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Cerritos?

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 Cerritos, the housing index is 252.2% 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 Cerritos, the transportation index stands at 37.9% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Cerritos, healthcare costs are 3.6% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Cerritos cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Cerritos is 31% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Cerritos is 88% higher than the national average
  • Cerritos housing is 252% 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 Cerritos

See all the best places to live around Cerritos

Compare Cerritos, 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$166,100$13,842$3,875$4,983
      Renters$142,714$11,893$3,330$4,282
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Cerritos, CA, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Cerritos, homeowners have a median income of $166,100. Using that number, a maximum of $3,875 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $142,714, which means there is a maximum of $3,330 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 Cerritos 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 Cerritos 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 Cerritos 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 Cerritos National avg. Difference
      Home Price $1,285,256.00$326,622.00293.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $6,403.73$2,480.25158.2%
      Apartment Rent $3,693.00$1,444.00155.7%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Cerritos 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.
      Vernon, CA25411818.0%
      Willowbrook, CA25,34713736.8%
      East Rancho Dominguez, CA15,76513837.9%
      Florence-Graham, CA66,60313939.1%
      Compton, CA98,73113939.5%
      Cerritos, CA50,76518888.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Wilson, NC50,769928.3%
      Murray, UT50,78011515.2%
      Harrisburg, PA50,810928.4%
      San Jacinto, CA50,68212524.7%
      Florin, CA50,63112525.3%
      Cerritos, CA50,76518888.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.