2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Monterey, CA vs Laguna Beach, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Laguna Beach or is it cheaper to live in Monterey?
- Laguna Beach is 8.6% more expensive than Monterey.

Which city has more affordable housing, Laguna Beach or Monterey?
- Laguna Beach housing costs are 163.2% more expensive than Monterey housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Monterey or is Health Care more affordable in Laguna Beach.
- Health related expenses are 35.0% less in Laguna Beach.
 Monterey, CALaguna Beach, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock164.9100
 Food & Groceries110.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock93.4100
 Housing333.3  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$2,741,100$338,100
 Utilities87  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock113.9100
 Miscellaneous112.2  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Monterey    21 Reviews

Over 8 years ago

The Monterey city area is an excellent place to live and one of the few California locales where it's relatively safe to raise a family. If I could no longer live here I  More

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I grew up on the Monterey Peninsula and had to leave to climb out of poverty. The median income is $35,000 and outside of the military, the jobs are mostly service  More

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My husband and I are just crazy about Monterey. I wonder if we take housing expenses (mortgage or rent) out of the picture, is Monterey still a very expensive city to  More

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Reviews for Laguna Beach    3 Reviews

Over 13 years ago

... always great to go home to. But i don't live there now, haven't for 10 years. Beautiful as it is, if you've got wanderlust you're always somewhere else. Avoid  More

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Over 16 years ago

Mediterranean climate, one of the best in the  More

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Laguna Beach is peaceful and beautiful. If you have the money for housing you will enjoy living here. However, during the seasonal Pageant of the Masters and Summer Art  More

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