Cost of Living in Bell, CA

With a cost of living index of 133, Bell, CA is a notably expensive place to live. Living here is 33% more expensive than the national average and 11% below the California state average of 144. With a population of 32,830, Bell is a mid-sized community that balances access to services with a more manageable cost of living compared to larger metros.

Housing costs are the biggest factor in Bell's cost of living. The median monthly rent is $1,538 (17% above the US median of $1,319), and the median home value sits at $561,400 (84% above the national median of $304,900). At current prices, the median home costs roughly 9.3x the median household income — a challenging ratio that puts homeownership out of reach for many residents.

The median household income in Bell is $60,641, which is 19% lower than the national median of $75,149. Residents spend roughly 30% of household income on rent. This is near the 30% threshold that financial experts generally consider the upper limit of affordability.

Everyday prices in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) metro area tend to run above the national average. Out of 6 common grocery and utility items tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 6 are priced higher than the US average. These real-world prices — from groceries to electricity — add up and should be factored into any cost of living comparison.

Data sources: US Census Bureau (ACS 2023), Zillow Home Values, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities, BLS Average Prices, and NOAA Climate Normals. Updated monthly.