Laguna Niguel, CA vs San Carlos, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

San Carlos, CA has a modeled overall cost index 6.0% lower than Laguna Niguel, CA.

Laguna Niguel, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,890 / month
San Carlos, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,950 / 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 Laguna Niguel, CA and San Carlos, 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 Laguna Niguel, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $308/month in San Carlos, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $146,309 in San Carlos, CA

Regional cost estimates: Laguna Niguel, CA uses Irvine, CA. San Carlos, CA uses Fremont, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 6.0%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$308

Savings

Annual Impact

$3.7K

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.

Laguna Niguel, CA

Population:63K

Cost Index:

174.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$2.18M

San Carlos, CA

Population:29K

Cost Index:

164.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$2.30M

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Laguna Niguel, CA

The Golden State

63K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 63K residents.

San Carlos, CA

The Golden State

29K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 29K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Laguna Niguel, CA vs San Carlos, 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	Laguna Niguel, CA	San Carlos, CA	Difference	Change
Transportation	$1,260/mo	$812/mo	↓ $448less	35.5%
Healthcare	$328/mo	$417/mo	↑ $89.68more	27.4%
All Utilities	$331/mo	$274/mo	↓ $56.70less	17.1%
Groceries	$617/mo	$667/mo	↑ $49.71more	8.1%
Other	$1,006/mo	$1,053/mo	↑ $46.88more	4.7%
Housing	$3,958/mo	$3,969/mo	↑ $10.35more	0.3%

Transportation

↓ 35.5%

Laguna Niguel, CA

$1,260

San Carlos, CA

$812

Difference

$448

less

Healthcare

↑ 27.4%

Laguna Niguel, CA

$328

San Carlos, CA

$417

Difference

$89.68

All Utilities

↓ 17.1%

Laguna Niguel, CA

$331

San Carlos, CA

$274

Difference

$56.70

less

Groceries

↑ 8.1%

Laguna Niguel, CA

$617

San Carlos, CA

$667

Difference

$49.71

Other

↑ 4.7%

Laguna Niguel, CA

$1,006

San Carlos, CA

$1,053

Difference

$46.88

Housing

↑ 0.3%

Laguna Niguel, CA

$3,958

San Carlos, CA

$3,969

Difference

$10.35

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$3,225

To$2,720

↓ $505

1 Bed

From$3,300

To$3,260

↓ $40.00

2 Bed

From$3,890

To$3,950

↑ $60.00

3 Bed

From$5,280

To$5,050

↓ $230

Laguna Niguel, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $3,260–$3,340/mo

San Carlos, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $3,260–$3,260/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 Laguna Niguel, CA

$7,192

Monthly in San Carlos, CA

$308

Difference

Home Values

Laguna Niguel

San Carlos

$2.18M

Median Value

$2.30M

↑ +1.5%

YoY Change

↑ +2.9%

↑ +55.7%

5-Year Change

↑ +25%

$1.43M - $2.93M

Price Range

$2.30M

Homes in San Carlos are 5% more expensive than Laguna Niguel

Calculate payment - Laguna Niguel Calculate payment - San Carlos

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

Laguna Niguel, 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

San Carlos, 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

Laguna Niguel, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

San Carlos, 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

Laguna Niguel

San Carlos

54 Moderate

Air Quality

49 Good

32.5%

Good Air Days

53%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+2.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.2°F

5 days

Heat Days >95°F

5 days

▲+2.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.2°F

5 days

Heat Days >95°F

5 days

Before moving from Laguna Niguel, CA to San Carlos, CA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in San Carlos, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Laguna Niguel, 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 Laguna Niguel to San Carlos moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Laguna Niguel, CA vs San Carlos, CA

How do the cost estimates for Laguna Niguel, CA and San Carlos, CA compare?

San Carlos, CA has a modeled overall cost index 6.0% lower than Laguna Niguel, 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 Laguna Niguel, CA, the model estimates $146,309 in San Carlos, 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 Laguna Niguel, CA and San Carlos, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,890/month in Laguna Niguel, CA and $3,950/month in San Carlos, 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.