Cost of Living in Anaheim, CA 2022

Known as the Heart of Orange County, Anaheim is home to Disneyland Resort. Anaheim is the second-largest city in Orange County in terms of land area. Otherwise, Anaheim is the tenth-most populated city in California.

Anaheim offers its residents cultural activities, green spaces, attractions, and more in a seamless urban and suburban living blend. Living in Anaheim means taking advantage of Southern California’s unbeatable weather, with temperatures rarely dropping below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

No matter why you choose to move to Anaheim, whether to be neighbors with Mickey or fulfill the sports fanatic within you, you’ll want to get a good idea of your costs. So let’s look at the cost of living in Anaheim to understand better how much you need to live there.

Anaheim Housing Costs

Like the rest of the country, rental trends were down during the winter. But, as the weather warms up, so does the demand for rentals. According to the latest rent report on Anaheim, this Southern California city is in line with national trends, with rent prices slightly increasing over the past month.

The median rent index in Anaheim is currently $1,861 for a one-bedroom apartment and $2,336 for a two-bedroom. Rent prices have seen a steady increase of 0.9% in the last month. Additionally, the rent prices for a one-bedroom are still 17.6% higher year-over-year, which falls in line with the national average for year-over-year growth and is just slightly above the state average of 16.3%.

Over the last year, other popular Orange County cities saw rent increases, many significantly greater than Anaheim. Some of the most popular Southern California cities, including their year-over-year growth, include Irvine (26.5%), Pomona (25.0%), and Santa Ana (23.3%). The median rent index for a two-bedroom apartment in these cities is $3,562, $2,087, and $2,322 respectively.

The Anaheim housing market has seen steady growth, with median home prices at $867,139. Compared to other major cities across the state, these prices are reasonable, especially when you consider the median price index of New York City is at $746,354, Phoenix is at $404,005, and Miami is now at $477,471.

Anaheim Transportation

For visitors, leisure travelers, and daily commuters, Anaheim has public transportation as governed by the Regional Transportation Intermodal Center, including:

• Rail
• Bus
• Taxi
• Other services

You might want to have your own vehicle to get around Anaheim and enjoy the city and state to its fullest. With a car, you can get around and see all of the sights to make the most out of living in Anaheim.

You'll spend about $4,900 annually for transportation living in Anaheim if you're a single adult without children. However, you will pay $13,317 for transportation annually if you are a family of four, including two working adults and two children. Just don’t forget that gasoline prices in Anaheim are around $3.53 per gallon, below the national average of $4.23.

Anaheim Food Costs

Anaheim is a hub for great eating and drinking, offering countless dining options and numerous cuisines. If you consider yourself a foodie, some of the iconic Anaheim spots to check out include Afters Ice Cream, Cali Tacos, Pandor Bakery, and the Iron Press Anaheim, amongst countless others.

Consider the costs associated with eating out in Anaheim, and expect to pay around $16.00 per person for a meal at an inexpensive restaurant.

You can also expect to pay at least $3,792 on food per year as a single adult without children, or around $11,106 per year for food if you have a family of two working adults and two children.

Thankfully, you can anticipate paying around the national averages for food items from local grocery stores like Food 4 Less, Walmart Neighborhood Market, or Northgate Market. For example, one gallon of regular milk costs $3.54 in the grocery store, while the national average is $3.88.

Anaheim Healthcare Costs

When planning your budget in Anaheim, account for proper medical care. A single adult without children will pay around $2,545 for medical care annually while working adults with two children will pay $8,150. In addition, childcare for this family will cost $21,579 per year.

Anaheim Utilities

Summers in Anaheim are hot and dry, and August is the hottest month with an average daytime high of 85°F. Conversely, winters in Anaheim are cool and short. The coldest days of the year fall in December, with an average overnight temperature rarely dropping below 46°F.

Even though the weather is mostly mild, you’ll still have to account for higher utility bills to stay comfortable year-round. Anaheim’s basic utilities include electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage, running $153.19 for a 915-sq. ft. apartment.

Adding on the Internet with 60 Mbps or more with unlimited data, cable/ADSL adds $69.50 to your utilities for a total of $222.69 each month. So before moving, know what to expect and budget accordingly by figuring out how much utilities will cost in an apartment.

Anaheim Fitness and Entertainment

You might want to look into a gym membership to maintain your fitness, though consider the costs associated with this option. Luckily, one adult's fitness club membership fee is manageable in Anaheim, averaging around $29.51 per month.

Otherwise, you can get outside and enjoy the beautiful landscape of Southern California’s great outdoors, as weather permits. Countless outdoor activities include rock scrambling, barefooting, wildlife viewing, birding, and foraging.

There are also plenty of great hiking trails in Anaheim, with some of the most popular found at Deer Canyon Park, Oak Canyon Nature Center, and Anaheim Hills Riding and Walking Trail.

Of course, you can also enjoy the indoors with plenty of entertainment options throughout the city. Some favorite local activities include catching an Anaheim Ducks hockey game, grabbing a bite to eat at the Anaheim Packing District, or visiting the Discovery Cube.** **

Other Expenses to Consider in Anaheim

Choosing to live on the wildly popular west coast region of the U.S. comes at a cost. California has some of the highest taxes in the country, which is essential to know. Both income and sales tax rates are high, but the good news for anyone looking to purchase is that property sales taxes rates are below average.

In Anaheim, the total sales tax is a whopping 7.75%. Beyond that, the state charges a 6.0% sales tax rate, Orange County imposes an additional 0.25% sales tax, and there is a special tax that adds an extra 1.5% on top of that in sales taxes.

If you’re moving out of state to Anaheim, consider costs associated with transportation, hotels, storage, and cross-country movers. Examples of other additional fees that sneak up on you with these cross-country moves include pet deposits, security deposits, and application fees.

Another cost you shouldn’t overlook during the planning process of your big move to Anaheim includes furnishing your home. To help you save some money, get some tips for decorating your apartment on a budget.

What Salary Do I Need to Live in Anaheim?

Your recommended salary in Anaheim depends entirely on the lifestyle you plan to lead. The living wage in Anaheim is $19.22 per hour, which is the basic wage needed to pay for essentials like housing, food, and necessities. Don’t forget to account for extra costs like dining and entertainment, as they are not a part of the living wage when calculating your budget.

The average salary index in Anaheim is $74,000 per year, roughly $19.69 per hour.

You can also consider the 30% rule for rent to determine your ideal salary in Anaheim. This rule says you shouldn’t spend more than one-third, or 30%, of your gross income on rent.

For example, if you’re looking for a one-bedroom apartment in Anaheim with an average rent price of $1,791, you can use the 30% rule to determine your minimum gross income by using the following formula:

10/3 x rent price

Based on this rule, your gross income should be about $5,970 per month or about $71,640 annually.

The living wage, average salary index, and recommended salary for Anaheim are three different tools you can use while budgeting. But remember that other additional living costs are not included, such as dining and entertainment. Once you add in these extra costs, you may find that you will need to adjust your apartment search for less expensive rent, a higher salary, or both.

Thankfully, the typical annual salaries for common professions in Anaheim are highly competitive. For example, the three highest typical annual salaries belong to Management, Legal, and Computer and Mathematical, respectively.

Job Market in Anaheim

The cost of living in Anaheim is slightly below the national average, and there is also a strong job market.

Not surprisingly, the primary income of the city is based on tourism, mainly due to Disneyland. As a result, The Walt Disney Company is Anaheim’s largest employer, with the resort itself contributing nearly $5 billion to the Southern California economy annually.

Final Thoughts

If you are interested in moving to Anaheim, the Heart of Orange County, you’ll need to determine which Anaheim neighborhood is best for you and learn how to apartment hunt. Then, register with Apartment List today and start checking out the hundreds of available apartments to rent in Anaheim!

FAQs: Cost of Living in Anaheim

How expensive is an apartment in Anaheim?

A one bedroom apartment in Anaheim costs $1,866. A two bedroom apartment in Anaheim costs $2,309.

What is the cheapest rent in Anaheim?

A one bedroom apartment is the cheapest rent you can get in Anaheim, with the median rent sitting at $1,836. The average rent for a two bedroom apartment in Anaheim is higher at $2,309.

How expensive is it to live in Anaheim?

Living in Anaheim is becoming increasingly more expensive. In Anaheim, rent averages $1,836 for a one-bedroom apartment. Transportation costs in Anaheim amount to $5,316 a year. Food costs $4,686 a year on average for a single resident of Anaheim.

How far is Anaheim from Los Angeles?

Anaheim is 27 miles away from Los Angeles. It takes 49 minutes to get to Los Angeles from Anaheim by car, 33 hours by bike, and 10 hours by foot.

How far is Anaheim from San Diego?

Anaheim is 95.3 miles away from San Diego. It takes 1 hour and 50 minutes to get to San Diego from Anaheim by car, 10 hours by bike, and 34 hours by foot.

What is the population of Anaheim?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, he population of Anaheim is 345,940. It is the most populated city in Orange County and the 10th most populated city in the state of California.

What is a good salary in Anaheim?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income in Anaheim is $81,806. However, the recommended salary in Anaheim is $6,120 per month or $73,440 annually. This total reflects a salary that would allow a renter to live comfortably and afford to cover the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment which sits at $1,836.