Huntington Beach, CA vs Lakewood, CA

Lakewood is moderately more affordable than Huntington Beach, with a 14.6% lower cost of living index. Huntington Beach scores 200 compared to 174 for Lakewood, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Huntington Beach can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Huntington Beach is $2,424/month compared to $2,324/month in Lakewood — a 4% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lakewood is more affordable at $774,100 median vs $1,047,300.

Median household income in Huntington Beach is $119,885 compared to $116,794 in Lakewood (+2.6%). Huntington Beach does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Huntington Beach spend roughly 24.3% of their income on rent, more than the 23.9% in Lakewood.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (64.9°F vs 64.9°F). Lakewood receives more rainfall at 12" per year compared to 11.2" in Huntington Beach.