Lakewood, CA vs West Covina, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

West Covina, CA has a modeled overall cost index 15.9% higher than Lakewood, CA.

Lakewood, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,220 / month
West Covina, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,920 / 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 Lakewood, CA and West Covina, 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 Lakewood, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $821/month in West Covina, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $159,852 in West Covina, CA

Regional cost estimates: Lakewood, CA uses Long Beach, CA. West Covina, CA uses Santa Ana, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 15.9%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$821

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$9.9K

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.

Lakewood, CA

Population:78K

Cost Index:

129.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$852K

West Covina, CA

Population:106K

Cost Index:

150.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$824K

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Lakewood, CA

The Golden State

78K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 78K residents.

West Covina, CA

The Golden State

106K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 106K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Lakewood, CA vs West Covina, 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	Lakewood, CA	West Covina, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,159/mo	$3,923/mo	↑ $764more	24.2%
Transportation	$1,543/mo	$1,567/mo	↑ $24.74more	1.6%
Other	$1,232/mo	$1,252/mo	↑ $19.76more	1.6%
Groceries	$758/mo	$764/mo	↑ $6.05more	0.8%
All Utilities	$406/mo	$410/mo	↑ $3.24more	0.8%
Healthcare	$402/mo	$405/mo	↑ $3.21more	0.8%

Housing

↑ 24.2%

Lakewood, CA

$3,159

West Covina, CA

$3,923

Difference

$764

Transportation

↑ 1.6%

Lakewood, CA

$1,543

West Covina, CA

$1,567

Difference

$24.74

Other

↑ 1.6%

Lakewood, CA

$1,232

West Covina, CA

$1,252

Difference

$19.76

Groceries

↑ 0.8%

Lakewood, CA

$758

West Covina, CA

$764

Difference

$6.05

All Utilities

↑ 0.8%

Lakewood, CA

$406

West Covina, CA

$410

Difference

$3.24

Healthcare

↑ 0.8%

Lakewood, CA

$402

West Covina, CA

$405

Difference

$3.21

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,310

To$2,090

↓ $220

1 Bed

From$2,580

To$2,340

↓ $240

2 Bed

From$3,220

To$2,920

↓ $300

3 Bed

From$4,080

To$3,700

↓ $380

Lakewood, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,370–$2,840/mo

West Covina, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,110–$2,400/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 Lakewood, CA

$8,321

Monthly in West Covina, CA

$821

Difference

Home Values

Lakewood

West Covina

$852K

Median Value

$824K

↓ -0.9%

YoY Change

↑ +0.1%

↑ +27.8%

5-Year Change

↑ +33.1%

$802K - $884K

Price Range

$801K - $907K

Homes in West Covina are 3% less expensive than Lakewood

Calculate payment - Lakewood Calculate payment - West Covina

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

Lakewood, 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

West Covina, 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

Lakewood, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

West Covina, 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

Lakewood

West Covina

80 Moderate

Air Quality

54 Moderate

10.4%

Good Air Days

32.5%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+2.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

5 days

Heat Days >95°F

12 days

▲+2.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

5 days

Heat Days >95°F

12 days

Before moving from Lakewood, CA to West Covina, CA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in West Covina, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Lakewood, 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 Lakewood to West Covina moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Lakewood, CA vs West Covina, CA

How do the cost estimates for Lakewood, CA and West Covina, CA compare?

West Covina, CA has a modeled overall cost index 15.9% higher than Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, CA, the model estimates $159,852 in West Covina, 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 Lakewood, CA and West Covina, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,220/month in Lakewood, CA and $2,920/month in West Covina, 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.