Cost of Living in Alhambra, CA - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,007 (excluding rent), and $3,150 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,200 (excluding rent), and $4,909 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.08 $19.08

$12.05 $12.05

$35.37 $35.37

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.5 $75.5

$50.3 $50.3

$126 $126

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.14 $11.14

$10.08 $10.08

$14.18 $14.18

Cappuccino

$5.12 $5.12

$3.52 $3.52

$8.04 $8.04

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.02 $2.02

$4.04 $4.04

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.54 $1.54

$3.08 $3.08

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.17 $6.17

$4.11 $4.11

$8.74 $8.74

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.09 $5.09

$10.18 $10.18

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$0.74 $0.74

$1.41 $1.41

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 $3.56

$2.18 $2.18

$5.58 $5.58

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$2.10 $2.10

$8.66 $8.66

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$2.04 $2.04

$7.16 $7.16

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.28 $12.28

$7.01 $7.01

$22.09 $22.09

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.46 $11.46

$6.11 $6.11

$19.78 $19.78

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.64 $15.64

$10.06 $10.06

$24.59 $24.59

Apples (1kg)

$4.94 $4.94

$2.58 $2.58

$8.88 $8.88

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.08 $1.08

$4.09 $4.09

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.22 $2.22

$8.89 $8.89

Tomato (1kg)

$4.62 $4.62

$2.15 $2.15

$8.61 $8.61

Potato (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.34 $1.34

$6.22 $6.22

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$1.88 $1.88

$4.52 $4.52

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.37 $1.37

$2.96 $2.96

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.22 $1.22

$3.31 $3.31

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.53 $9.53

$7.95 $7.95

$11.93 $11.93

Wine (Bottle)

$14.75 $14.75

$7.87 $7.87

$44.24 $44.24

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.77 $1.77

$2.93 $2.93

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 $3.34

$1.59 $1.59

$5.97 $5.97

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.27 $1.27

$2.03 $2.03

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.04 $3.04

$5.07 $5.07

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.58 $1.58

$2.21 $2.21

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.82 $28.82

$26.07 $26.07

$34.56 $34.56

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.74 $0.74

$0.97 $0.97

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.3K $29.3K

$23.5K $23.5K

$35.7K $35.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.3K $25.3K

$27.3K $27.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$190 $190

$121 $121

$347 $347

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$52.6 $52.6

$29.88 $29.88

$99.6 $99.6

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$49.00 $49.00

$98.0 $98.0

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.34 $43.34

$17.64 $17.64

$50.4 $50.4

Cinema Ticket

$13.71 $13.71

$11.17 $11.17

$18.28 $18.28

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,316 $1,316

$1,014 $1,014

$1,873 $1,873

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$16.7K $16.7K

$27.0K $27.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.4 $50.4

$29.56 $29.56

$78.8 $78.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.31 $39.31

$24.57 $24.57

$63.9 $63.9

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 $86.1

$59.6 $59.6

$129 $129

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$63.2 $63.2

$198 $198

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$2,111 $2,111

$2,513 $2,513

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,916 $1,916

$1,867 $1,867

$1,965 $1,965

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,598 $2,598

$1,975 $1,975

$2,963 $2,963

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,218 $2,218

$1,697 $1,697

$2,495 $2,495

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,023 $7,023

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,985 $5,985

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,840 $4,840

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.19

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: March 2, 2026

Alhambra, CA Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🌎 North america

Cost of Living in Alhambra, CA - Frequently Asked Questions

Cost of Living in Alhambra, CA, United States varies by lifestyle. You’ll find a mix of affordable takeout and mid-range dining, with housing costs depending on neighborhood and building age. Compared with central Los Angeles, it’s often easier to find value while staying within a reasonable commute to the city’s amenities. Use options near historic downtown or near the Metrolink station for shorter trips. Utilities and internet fit typical North American plans, but seasonal energy use and summer cooling can shift bills. Tip: Compare several neighborhoods, test short-term stays, and map your daily routes to budget realistically.

Housing in Alhambra tends to offer more space for your budget than denser city cores. Look for older buildings with practical amenities near Main Street or the Metrolink station for solid transit access, and visit several properties to compare noise, parking, and safety. Grocery options include large ethnic markets and casual eateries, making economical meals easy. For transport, bus lines and the Metrolink connect you to Pasadena and downtown LA; a bike covers local hops. The Alhambra, CA, United States living cost varies by neighborhood and season, so plan a flexible approach to housing and daily needs. Tip: Track weekly grocery and transit spending to calibrate your plan.

To optimize quality of life, use a simple budgeting framework: housing, groceries, transport, and leisure. Start by selecting a neighborhood known for parks and walkability, and test a few spots for a month to see what fits your pace. Seasonality can shift costs, so adjust expectations for heating or cooling and dining options. Build in social time through local cafés, libraries, or coworking spaces that offer reliable wifi and flexible hours. Weekend markets and ethnic groceries are great for variety without blowing the budget. Tip: keep a small emergency fund and rotate between low-cost and occasional splurge activities.