La Selva Beach, CA vs Lake Hughes, CA

The cost of living difference between La Selva Beach, CA and Lake Hughes, CA is dramatic. Lake Hughes is 68.8% cheaper than La Selva Beach, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. La Selva Beach has a cost index of 244 while Lake Hughes sits at 144, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in La Selva Beach is $3,501/month compared to $2,031/month in Lake Hughes — a 72% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lake Hughes is more affordable at $519,400 median vs $1,195,100.

Median household income in La Selva Beach is $159,094 compared to $110,438 in Lake Hughes (+44.1%). The higher salaries in La Selva Beach partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of La Selva Beach spend roughly 26.4% of their income on rent, more than the 22.1% in Lake Hughes.

Climate-wise, Lake Hughes is notably warmer with an average of 62.1°F compared to 57.2°F in La Selva Beach. La Selva Beach receives more rainfall at 22.4" per year compared to 6.8" in Lake Hughes.