La Selva Beach, CA vs Lake of the Woods, CA

The cost of living difference between La Selva Beach, CA and Lake of the Woods, CA is dramatic. Lake of the Woods is 131% 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 of the Woods sits at 105, 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 $1,346/month in Lake of the Woods — a 160% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lake of the Woods is more affordable at $302,900 median vs $1,195,100.

Median household income in La Selva Beach is $159,094 compared to $48,958 in Lake of the Woods (+225%). While La Selva Beach is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of La Selva Beach spend roughly 26.4% of their income on rent, less than the 33% in Lake of the Woods. The La Selva Beach ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (57.2°F vs 58.7°F). La Selva Beach receives more rainfall at 22.4" per year compared to 13.1" in Lake of the Woods.