Encinitas, CA vs Redondo Beach, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Redondo Beach, CA has a modeled overall cost index 17.8% higher than Encinitas, CA.

Encinitas, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,870 / month
Redondo Beach, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,320 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Encinitas, CA and Redondo Beach, CA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Encinitas, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,581/month in Redondo Beach, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $168,975 in Redondo Beach, CA

Regional cost estimates: Encinitas, CA uses San Diego, CA. Redondo Beach, CA uses Los Angeles, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 17.8%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,581

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$19.0K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Encinitas, CA

Population:61K

Cost Index:

134.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.78M

Redondo Beach, CA

Population:68K

Cost Index:

158.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.49M

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Encinitas, CA

The Golden State

61K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 61K residents.

Redondo Beach, CA

The Golden State

68K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 68K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Encinitas, CA vs Redondo Beach, CA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Encinitas, CA	Redondo Beach, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,327/mo	$4,829/mo	↑ $1,502more	45.2%
Transportation	$1,112/mo	$1,494/mo	↑ $383more	34.4%
Other	$1,339/mo	$1,198/mo	↓ $140less	10.5%
Healthcare	$468/mo	$402/mo	↓ $66.16less	14.1%
All Utilities	$465/mo	$404/mo	↓ $60.50less	13.0%
Groceries	$791/mo	$754/mo	↓ $36.83less	4.7%

Housing

↑ 45.2%

Encinitas, CA

$3,327

Redondo Beach, CA

$4,829

Difference

$1,502

Transportation

↑ 34.4%

Encinitas, CA

$1,112

Redondo Beach, CA

$1,494

Difference

$383

Other

↓ 10.5%

Encinitas, CA

$1,339

Redondo Beach, CA

$1,198

Difference

$140

less

Healthcare

↓ 14.1%

Encinitas, CA

$468

Redondo Beach, CA

$402

Difference

$66.16

less

All Utilities

↓ 13.0%

Encinitas, CA

$465

Redondo Beach, CA

$404

Difference

$60.50

less

Groceries

↓ 4.7%

Encinitas, CA

$791

Redondo Beach, CA

$754

Difference

$36.83

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,950

To$2,380

↓ $570

1 Bed

From$3,170

To$2,660

↓ $510

2 Bed

From$3,870

To$3,320

↓ $550

3 Bed

From$5,160

To$4,210

↓ $950

Encinitas, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $3,170–$3,170/mo

Redondo Beach, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,490–$2,830/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Encinitas, CA

$9,081

Monthly in Redondo Beach, CA

$1,581

Difference

Home Values

Encinitas

Redondo Beach

$1.78M

Median Value

$1.49M

↓ -0.1%

YoY Change

↑ +0.3%

↑ +50.1%

5-Year Change

↑ +27.6%

$1.78M

Price Range

$1.37M - $1.60M

Homes in Redondo Beach are 16% less expensive than Encinitas

Calculate payment - Encinitas Calculate payment - Redondo Beach

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Encinitas, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Redondo Beach, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Encinitas, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Redondo Beach, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Encinitas

Redondo Beach

71 Moderate

Air Quality

80 Moderate

12.8%

Good Air Days

10.4%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌡

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+2.1°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

1 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

▲+2.1°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

1 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

Before moving from Encinitas, CA to Redondo Beach, CA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Redondo Beach, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Encinitas, CA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Encinitas to Redondo Beach moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Redondo Beach, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Encinitas, CA vs Redondo Beach, CA

How do the cost estimates for Encinitas, CA and Redondo Beach, CA compare?

Redondo Beach, CA has a modeled overall cost index 17.8% higher than Encinitas, CA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Encinitas, CA, the model estimates $168,975 in Redondo Beach, CA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Encinitas, CA and Redondo Beach, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,870/month in Encinitas, CA and $3,320/month in Redondo Beach, CA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.