Cost of Living in Santa Monica, CA [2025]

Time and time again, Santa Monica has been ranked as the #1 Los Angeles suburb. Located along Pacific Coast Highway, the city offers residents the perfect combination of a bustling cosmopolitan and laid-back beach town lifestyle. With the unbeatable views and bohemian feel, it’s no surprise that Santa Monica has become so popular.

Despite the more relaxed vibe of Santa Monica, there are still countless first-rate amenities at your fingertips. In fact, Santa Monica has been rated as one of the top ten most sustainable cities in the U.S. And, for those that love the outdoors, you’ll be happy to hear that there are a plethora of bike paths throughout this incredible city.

No matter why you choose to move to Santa Monica, whether it be the swoon-worthy West Coast weather or for the vibrant city life, you’ll want to get a good idea of what your costs will look like. So let’s look at the cost of living in Santa Monica to understand better how much you need to live there.

Cost of Living in Santa Monica

How Much Is Cost of Living in Santa Monica, CA?

If you're looking to live in coastal California, the lifestyle will cost a premium. According to Sperling's Best Places, the overall cost of living in Santa Monica is a whopping 61.7% higher than the national average. California is the #3 most expensive state in the US, and the cost of living in California is 49.9% higher than the national average.

Where is the Cost of Living Highest in Santa Monica, CA?

Santa Monica is a premier place to live in the Los Angeles area, but some areas, like North of Montana are pricier than others. Currently, the rent one-bedroom apartments in North of Montana ranges from $3,300 to $4,900 with an average rent of $4,575. For a two-bedroom apartment, rents range from $11,500 to $16,500 with an average rent of $12,900.

Where is the Cost of Living Most Affordable in Santa Monica, CA?

Santa Monica isn't cheap, but there are some areas that are less expensive than others. One-bedroom apartments in Mid-City typically rent between $2,750 and $3,850, with most averaging around $2,774 per month. For two-bedroom options, prices span a wider range—from $2,950 up to $6,950—bringing the average monthly rent to about $5,332.

How Much Is Rent in Santa Monica?

As of March 2025, our rent reports shows that the overall median rent in Santa Monica stands at $2,527 a month. Our data shows a 1.1% increase in February, bringing the city’s annual growth to 2.9%. Over the past year, rent prices in Santa Monica have climbed faster than both the California average of 1.6% and the national trend, which dipped by 0.4%.

You can also use our data to compare rents to the broader metro area. Santa Monica’s median rent of $2,527 is roughly 15.4% higher than the Los Angeles metro average of $2,189. While the broader metro area has seen a modest 0.8% increase in rent over the past year, Santa Monica’s rent growth continues to outpace the region.

Looking at 23 cities across the Los Angeles metro, Newport Beach tops the list with the highest median rent at $3,272. On the other end of the spectrum, Long Beach remains the most affordable, with a median rent of $1,729. Pomona currently leads in year-over-year rent growth at 4.9%, while Long Beach has experienced the steepest decline, with rents falling 2.3%.

How Much is a 1-Bedroom Apartment in Santa Monica, CA?

For a one-bedroom apartment in Santa Monica, you'll pay a median rent of $2,392. One-bedroom rental prices can quickly changed depending on the neighborhood, so we also pulled a few examples of the starting rent prices in different Santa Monica neighborhoods:

How Much Is a 2-Bedroom Apartment in Santa Monica?

If you're looking for more space and need a two-bedroom apartment in Santa Monica, you'll pay a median of $2,867 a month. Here's an overview of the starting rent prices in different Santa Monica neighborhoods:

How Much Is Housing in Santa Monica?

The Santa Monica housing market has seen steady, significant growth, with median home prices at $1,656,900. For context, the median home price for the state of California is $733,500.

Compared to other major cities across the state, these prices are relatively high, especially when you consider the median price index of Irvine is now at $1,128,000 million. Owning a home in Santa Monica is incredibly expensive, but there are options just outside of the area. Pomona is nearly a third of the cost at $595,800 and nearly 40% less than Santa Ana at $698,500.

What Salary Do I Need to Live in Santa Monica?

To help you determine your ideal salary in Santa Monica, you can use the 30% rule for rent, which holds that you shouldn’t spend more than one-third, or 30%, of your gross income on rent in order to live comfortably. At a median rate of $2,392 per month, we estimate you would want to earn around $95,680 a year, $7,973.33 a month, or $49.73 per hour to afford an apartment in Santa Monica.

You can also look to MIT's data to see the living wage the greater Los Angeles County is $27.81 per hour, or $55,620 a year. This figure is the minimum you need to stay above the poverty line and pay for the basics, including housing, food, and transportation. It doesn't account for extras like travel, debt repayments, and splurges.

However, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income in Santa Monica is $109,739 per year, $9,144.92 per month, or roughly $52.76 per hour. That's right around what you would need to earn to rend the average apartment.

When budgeting, keep in mind that the living wage, average salary, and recommended salary are three different tools you can use. Other additional living costs, such as dining, entertainment, etc., are not included. Once you add in these costs, you may find that you will need to adjust your apartment search for less expensive rent, a higher salary, or possibly, both.

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

How Much Is Transportation in Santa Monica?

If you're a single adult without children, you'll spend about $9,525 for transportation living in Los Angeles county annually. A family of four, including two working adults and two children, will pay $15,977 for transportation annually.

Los Angeles County’s Metro and Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus cover public transportation across the greater Los Angeles Area, including Santa Monica. Santa Monica renters commuting to surrounding Los Angeles cities via public transportation have an easy time. Santa Monica has a transit score of 60.

In addition to the bus, Santa Monica also offers or promotes other alternative transportation, including:

• Walking - Santa Monica has a walk score of 83.
• Biking - Santa Monica has a bike score of 88.
• Metro Expo light rail.
• Electric scooters and bikes

Still, you might want to have a vehicle of your own to get around Santa Monica and enjoy the city and state to its fullest. If you plan to make the most out of living in Santa Monica, you’ll probably want to have a car to get around and see all of the sights.

How Much Are Groceries in Santa Monica?

Single adults without children should expect to pay at least $4,428 on food per year in LA. However, if you have a family of two working adults and two children, you should expect to pay $12,978 per year for food.

Santa Monica offers countless dining options with a handful of amazing foods to add to your must-eat list, including the Double HiHo cheeseburger at HiHo, the Godmother sandwich at Bay Cities Italian Deli, and roasted goat from Tar and Roses. However, bear in mind that there are costs associated with eating out in Santa Monica, and expect to pay around $25 per person for a meal at an inexpensive restaurant. At a more upscale restaurant, you'll spend $105 for a three-course meal.

Anticipate paying below national averages for food items from local grocery stores like Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, or Viva La Vegan. For example, one gallon of regular milk costs $4.67 in the grocery store, while the national average is $4.00.

How Much Is Child Care in Santa Monica, CA?

Childcare will be among your largest expensive, right behind housing. In SantaMonica, what you pay for childcare can vary widely depending on the type of care, your child’s age, and which provider you choose.

Recent figures from MIT show that a two-parent household with both adults working might spend close to $12,588 annually on childcare. Prices are influenced by several factors, including where you live, local caregiver pay rates, and how many childcare options are available in your area. For two children, that expense goes up to $25,417. Keep in mind this is the overall average for Los Angeles County.

If you're looking to ease the financial burden, it might be worth exploring creative childcare solutions like nanny sharing, part-time preschools, or structured after-school programs.

How Much Is Healthcare in Santa Monica?

When planning your budget in Santa Monica, account for proper medical care. A single adult without children in LA will pay around $2,628 for medical care annually while working adults with two children will pay $9,440.

How Much Are Utilities in Santa Monica?

In Santa Monica, basic utilities include electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage, run around $191.73 per month for a 915-sq. ft. apartment. That's somewhat lower than the national average of $207.74. If you add on a mobile phone monthly plan and Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) you'll spend another $132.43 for a total of $324.16 a month.

One of the many advantages of moving to Santa Monica is the incredible Southern California weather year-round. Winters in Santa Monica are partly cloudy, cool, and wet, and the coldest days fall in December, with an average overnight temperature rarely dropping below 50°F. Summers are clear, arid, and warm, and August is the hottest month with an average daytime high of 76°F.

Still, there may be moments you’ll need to combat the cold winter nights or warm summer days. So, account for higher utilities year-round to stay comfortable.

Before you move, get a better idea of how much utilities will cost in an apartment so that you can know what to expect and budget accordingly.

Santa Monica Fitness and Entertainment

The weather year-round in Santa Monica is pretty pleasant, but you may still opt for a fitness club membership out of personal preference. However, keep in mind there will be costs associated with keeping fit throughout the year if you choose this route. The fee for a fitness club membership for one adult is steep in Santa Monica, averaging around $120 per month.

Otherwise, as weather permits most of the year, you can and should enjoy the beautiful landscape of Southern California’s great outdoors. Hike some of the city’s most popular trails, including Mishe Mokwa Trail, Los Liones, or Solstice Canyon Loop. Santa Monica’s other great outdoor activities include biking the Strand to Manhattan Beach, strolling along the iconic Santa Monica Pier, or hitting the beach.

Of course, you can also enjoy the indoors with plenty of entertainment options throughout the city. Some favorite local activities include the Museum of Flying, the VOID, or Mi’s Westside Comedy Theater. Just be sure you account for these additional expenses in your budget.

How Much Are Taxes in Santa Monica, CA?

Living on the wildly popular west coast region of the U.S. comes at a cost. Unfortunately, California is notorious for having some of the highest taxes in the country. Income and sales taxes are high, but the good news for anyone looking to purchase is that property sales taxes rates are below average.

In Santa Monica, the total sales tax is a whopping 10.25%. The state charges a 6.0% sales tax rate, Los Angeles County imposes an additional 2.0% sales tax, and Santa Monica City charges an extra 1.0% on top of that in sales taxes.

Anyone moving out of state to Santa Monica will also need to consider costs associated with transportation, hotels, storage, and cross-country movers. Other additional fees that sneak up on you with these types of moves include pet deposits, security deposits, application fees, and more.

Lastly, it’s crucial not to overlook the cost of furnishing your home. Get some tips for decorating your apartment on a budget to help you save some money.

Job Market in Santa Monica

The good news for anyone looking to call Santa Monica home is that even though the cost of living is slightly above the national average, there is a strong job market throughout Los Angeles County. Unfortunately, though, the unemployment rate in the Los Angeles and Samta Monica area falls presently above the national average of 3.4%, currently at 4.7%.

Los Angeles County is notorious for constantly shifting demographics, and Santa Monica is no different. As a result, the economy throughout the area can be challenging to narrow down. Above all, though, Santa Monica is a creative economy filled with countless jobs in fashion and design, entertainment, museum, and theater.

Finding an Apartment in Santa Monica, CA

If you are interested in moving to Santa Monica, a city filled with bohemian charm and urban energy, then you’ll need to determine which Santa Monica neighborhood is best for you and learn how to apartment hunt. Then, register with Apartment List today and start checking out available apartments in Santa Monica taking this quiz).

FAQs: Cost of Living in Santa Monica in 2025

How expensive is an apartment in Santa Monica?

Santa Monica rents are higher than many areas of the country, and throughout California. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Santa Monica costs $2,392. A two-bedroom apartment costs around $2,867.

What is the cheapest rent in Santa Monica?

The cheapest rent in Santa Monica is $2,392 for a one-bedroom apartment.

How expensive is it to live in Santa Monica?

The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Santa Monica costs $2,392. Food costs at least $4,428 a year for a single adult living in Santa Monica. For a family of two working adults and two children, food costs at least $12,978 a year. Transportation will cost an average of $9,525 for a single adult living in Santa Monica. For a family of four, the price rises to $15,977.

How far is Santa Monica from Los Angeles?

Santa Monica is 16.5 miles from Los Angeles via I-10 W. Los Angeles traffic is notorious, but it should take around 35 minutes to get between Santa Monica and Los Angeles, depending on the time of day.

What is the population of Santa Monica?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, at the end of 2020, the population of Santa Monica was 89,922. The population of the entire state of California is 39,431,263.

What is a good salary in Santa Monica?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average household income in Santa Monica is $109,739. We recommend using the 30% rule to live comfortably in Santa Monica. The rule states you spend no more than 30% of your take home pay on rent. If a one-bedroom apartment in Santa Monica costs $2,392, your annual income should be $95,680 a year or $7,973.33 per month. If a one-two bedroom apartment in Santa Monica costs $2,540, your annual income should be at least $101,600 or $8,466.67 per month.