| Index | Hermosa Beach | California | National |
| Cost of living | 290 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 114 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 697 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 116 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 123 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 131 | 127 | 100 |

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Hermosa Beach is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Hermosa Beach is 290, which is 190% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.
If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Hermosa Beach may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Hermosa Beach falls within this bracket.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Hermosa Beach 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 597.5% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 5 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Hermosa Beach and this is how they responded. 20% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 80% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is Hermosa Beach an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Hermosa Beach is 795.6% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 135.2% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Hermosa Beach has a median household income of $211,942, which is 160.6% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as 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 with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday household expenses like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Hermosa Beach starts at 7.25% and the income tax rates start at 1%.
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 Hermosa Beach, the groceries index is 8.8% higher than the national average.
The Hermosa Beach cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for 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 | $283,169 | $23,597 | $6,607 | $8,496 |
| Renters | $187,549 | $15,629 | $4,376 | $5,627 |
| 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. |
| Westside, CA | 218 | 124 | 23.9% |
| Vernon, CA | 254 | 117 | 16.8% |
| Rolling Hills CDP, CA | 855 | 133 | 33.4% |
| Willowbrook, CA | 25,347 | 136 | 36.0% |
| East Rancho Dominguez, CA | 15,765 | 136 | 36.3% |
| Hermosa Beach, CA | 19,749 | 290 | 190.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| North Liberty, IA | 19,749 | 104 | 4.4% |
| Mineola, NY | 19,748 | 154 | 54.1% |
| Erlanger, KY | 19,751 | 91 | 8.9% |
| Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC | 19,745 | n/a | |
| Phelan, CA | 19,739 | 122 | 22.1% |
| Hermosa Beach, CA | 19,749 | 290 | 190.4% |