2026 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Lake Elsinore, CA vs Ridgecrest, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Ridgecrest or is it cheaper to live in Lake Elsinore?
- Ridgecrest is 23.9% less expensive than Lake Elsinore.

Which city has more affordable housing, Ridgecrest or Lake Elsinore?
- Ridgecrest housing costs are 49.9% less expensive than Lake Elsinore housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Lake Elsinore or is Health Care more affordable in Ridgecrest.
- Health related expenses are 6.2% more in Ridgecrest.
 Lake Elsinore, CARidgecrest, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock99.8100
 Food & Groceries99.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock92.7100
 Housing165.1  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$245,600$338,100
 Utilities115  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock101.6100
 Miscellaneous112.2  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?

In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.

Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate

Upgrade to Premium | See Example

Reviews for Lake Elsinore    10 Reviews

The new comfort index for Lake Elsinore is 78. I lived in Lake Elsinore for 10 years, and there are usually 100+ days that the temperature is over 90, and several weeks  More

   |    Reply

8/23/2013 To someone thinking of moving to Lake Elsinore I really want to write this to you because I was in you position a year and a half ago. I was living in Delmar  More

   |    Reply

Over 16 years ago

How is the area near the Ortegas? I see a lot of families. Is this a good place for kids and  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Lake Elsinore

Reviews for Ridgecrest    7 Reviews

For context, I grew up in Ridgecrest and moved away after graduating high school. I have since lived in LA and the Bay Area but I visit RC often. RC is in the high  More

   |    Reply

Ridgecrest and Kern County are red state bastions in a land of blue voting counties. If you want a concealed weapons permit, you'll get it. Want to own any firearm  More

   |    Reply

Over 14 years ago

The hardest thing to get used to in Ridgecrest is the weather. It can get quite windy. And hot. 115 hot. But it's a dry heat! It does cool off in the evening, and it  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Ridgecrest


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.