| Index | Laguna Woods | California | National |
| Cost of living | 135 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 113 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 180 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 120 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 110 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 122 | 127 | 100 |
The cost of living in Laguna Woods affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Laguna Woods is 135, which is 35% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Laguna Woods 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, Laguna Woods falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.
When it comes to the cost of living in Laguna Woods, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 80.3% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.
Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 6 residents in Laguna Woods to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 17% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 83% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.
Is Laguna Woods 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 Laguna Woods, the median home price is 75% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 92.7% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Laguna Woods boasting a median household income of $69,996, 13.9% lower 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.
Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Laguna Woods, the groceries index is 9.1% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Laguna Woods, the general sales tax rate starts at 7.25%, and income tax rates begin at 1%.
The Laguna Woods cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical 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 | $73,787 | $6,149 | $1,722 | $2,214 |
| Renters | $59,750 | $4,979 | $1,394 | $1,793 |
| 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. |
| Las Flores CDP (Tehama County), CA | 335 | 116 | 16.5% |
| Santa Ana, CA | 345,160 | 161 | 60.9% |
| Midway City, CA | 8,883 | 158 | 58.5% |
| Garden Grove, CA | 176,551 | 165 | 65.4% |
| Orange, CA | 144,054 | 178 | 78.4% |
| Laguna Woods, CA | 16,656 | 135 | 34.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Lebanon, IN | 16,654 | 91 | 9.1% |
| Mount Clemens, MI | 16,642 | 89 | 11.5% |
| Millbrook, AL | 16,670 | 94 | 6.3% |
| Aurora, OH | 16,638 | 114 | 14.4% |
| Red Hill, SC | 16,638 | 98 | 1.7% |
| Laguna Woods, CA | 16,656 | 135 | 34.5% |
Here are the best places to live in California
These are the largest cities in California
See the best places to live in Laguna Woods
Most Dangerous Cities In The US