Garden Grove, CA vs La Mesa, CA

Garden Grove, CA and La Mesa, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.5% difference in their overall index. Garden Grove scores 163 while La Mesa scores 159 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Garden Grove is $1,971/month compared to $1,958/month in La Mesa — a 1% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: La Mesa is more affordable at $738,800 median vs $765,500.

Median household income in Garden Grove is $90,166 compared to $84,337 in La Mesa (+6.9%). While Garden Grove is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Garden Grove spend roughly 26.2% of their income on rent, less than the 27.9% in La Mesa.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (66.2°F vs 64.1°F). Garden Grove receives more rainfall at 11.9" per year compared to 11" in La Mesa.