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

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,082 (excluding rent), and $2,931 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,558 (excluding rent), and $6,124 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.08 $20.08

$15.06 $15.06

$50.2 $50.2

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$59.2 $59.2

$88.8 $88.8

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.66 $14.66

$12.14 $12.14

$15.17 $15.17

Cappuccino

$5.18 $5.18

$3.58 $3.58

$6.96 $6.96

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

$2.64 $2.64

$1.95 $1.95

$2.92 $2.92

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.51 $2.51

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.22 $7.22

$3.98 $3.98

$7.97 $7.97

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.23 $8.23

$6.17 $6.17

$10.29 $10.29

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.91 $0.91

$1.28 $1.28

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.78 $2.78

$5.56 $5.56

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$1.78 $1.78

$6.75 $6.75

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$2.92 $2.92

$5.86 $5.86

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.67 $10.67

$5.53 $5.53

$17.67 $17.67

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.21 $13.21

$5.70 $5.70

$17.62 $17.62

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 $14.63

$8.89 $8.89

$17.99 $17.99

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.83 $2.83

$6.21 $6.21

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.40 $1.40

$2.59 $2.59

Oranges (1kg)

$4.00 $4.00

$1.50 $1.50

$7.60 $7.60

Tomato (1kg)

$5.56 $5.56

$1.64 $1.64

$8.79 $8.79

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$1.07 $1.07

$5.37 $5.37

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$1.76 $1.76

$4.46 $4.46

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.97 $0.97

$1.94 $1.94

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.54 $1.54

$2.66 $2.66

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.95 $10.95

$6.97 $6.97

$12.50 $12.50

Wine (Bottle)

$14.79 $14.79

$7.89 $7.89

$22.69 $22.69

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.42 $1.42

$3.54 $3.54

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$1.51 $1.51

$6.03 $6.03

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.22 $1.22

$1.96 $1.96

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.43 $6.43

$6.07 $6.07

$9.71 $9.71

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$4.22 $4.22

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.36 $29.36

$26.56 $26.56

$35.21 $35.21

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.18 $1.18

$1.38 $1.38

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

$23.5K $23.5K

$36.1K $36.1K

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$24.0K $24.0K

$34.9K $34.9K

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

$158 $158

$88.5 $88.5

$186 $186

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

$46.77 $46.77

$20.12 $20.12

$101 $101

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$50.7 $50.7

$81.2 $81.2

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.19 $35.19

$17.60 $17.60

$50.3 $50.3

Cinema Ticket

$13.83 $13.83

$9.88 $9.88

$17.78 $17.78

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

$1,227 $1,227

$1,188 $1,188

$1,831 $1,831

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$16.6K $16.6K

$26.9K $26.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 $56.3

$25.15 $25.15

$69.4 $69.4

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.76 $34.76

$24.06 $24.06

$45.11 $45.11

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 $84.1

$64.2 $64.2

$98.7 $98.7

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$50.2 $50.2

$161 $161

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,777 $1,777

$1,495 $1,495

$2,092 $2,092

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,732 $1,732

$1,528 $1,528

$1,936 $1,936

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,653 $3,653

$1,974 $1,974

$3,653 $3,653

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,297 $3,297

$2,967 $2,967

$3,461 $3,461

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,751 $5,751

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,592 $5,592

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,216 $4,216

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.64

6.19

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

Last update: March 2, 2026

Downey, 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 Downey, CA - Frequently Asked Questions

Downey, CA sits in a favorable spot for value seekers who want easy access to Los Angeles while enjoying a more residential pace. In general, many travelers, expats, and digital nomads find the area reasonably affordable compared to core city hubs, with a mix of housing options and practical services within reach. You'll notice a blend of suburban calm, walkable neighborhoods, and family-friendly amenities – plus quick routes to beaches and markets. Cost of Living in Downey, CA, United States offers a balanced starting point for budgeting and daily life, rather than a bargain-basement profile. Tip: Map a few short routes to work and groceries to estimate time and stress.

Daily life in Downey tends to be practical and comfortable for a range of budgets. Start your housing search by looking at a mix of apartment complexes, duplexes, and single-family homes in family-friendly neighborhoods with parks and schools nearby. For food, you’ll find a diverse set of markets and casual dining, plus convenient access to larger grocery chains and ethnic groceries. Transportation options include car use as a common choice, with commutes amplified by proximity to freeways, while local buses and light rail can connect you to nearby hubs. Co-working spaces and cafés around Downey support remote work or quick meetups. Downey, CA, United States living cost shapes day-to-day decisions about pace and errands. Tip: Keep a binding plan for grocery days and transit times.

Quality of life in Downey offers a stable, accessible mix of suburban comfort and city reach. To budget effectively, build a simple framework: identify fixed needs (housing, transit pass, groceries) and flexible ones (dining out, entertainment), then set monthly boundaries. Seasonality in Southern California is milder, but you’ll notice peak crowding around major events and holiday periods, which can influence pricing and wait times for services. Neighborhood fit matters: look for tree-lined streets near parks, or pockets with convenient shopping and quick access to the LA basin. Practical moves to save include planning trips by combining errands, using public transit for longer hops, and leveraging local community resources. Tip: trial a concrete one-week routine before settling in.