Laguna Beach, CA vs Westlake Village, CA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Westlake Village is 17.8% cheaper than Laguna Beach. With a cost index of 245 vs 289, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Westlake Village to Laguna Beach should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Laguna Beach is $2,802/month compared to $3,501/month in Westlake Village — a 20% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Laguna Beach has cheaper rent, Westlake Village actually has lower median home values ($1,212,800 vs $2,000,001).

Median household income in Laguna Beach is $140,508 compared to $174,069 in Westlake Village (-19.3%). Westlake Village offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Laguna Beach spend roughly 23.9% of their income on rent, less than the 24.1% in Westlake Village.