Lompoc, CA vs Lake Elsinore, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Lake Elsinore, CA has a modeled overall cost index 3.8% lower than Lompoc, CA.

Lompoc, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,215 / month
Lake Elsinore, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,835 / 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 Lompoc, CA and Lake Elsinore, 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 Lompoc, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $148/month in Lake Elsinore, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,227 in Lake Elsinore, CA

Regional cost estimates: Lompoc, CA uses Oxnard, CA. Lake Elsinore, CA uses Riverside, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 3.8%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$148

Savings

Annual Impact

$1.8K

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.

Lompoc, CA

Population:43K

Cost Index:

117.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$574K

Lake Elsinore, CA

Population:73K

Cost Index:

113.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$589K

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Lompoc, CA

The Golden State

43K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 43K residents.

Lake Elsinore, CA

The Golden State

73K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 73K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Lompoc, CA vs Lake Elsinore, 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	Lompoc, CA	Lake Elsinore, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,168/mo	$2,517/mo	↓ $651less	20.5%
Transportation	$1,433/mo	$1,721/mo	↑ $288more	20.1%
Groceries	$768/mo	$842/mo	↑ $73.59more	9.6%
Other	$1,311/mo	$1,375/mo	↑ $63.09more	4.8%
All Utilities	$412/mo	$452/mo	↑ $39.47more	9.6%
Healthcare	$408/mo	$447/mo	↑ $39.05more	9.6%

Housing

↓ 20.5%

Lompoc, CA

$3,168

Lake Elsinore, CA

$2,517

Difference

$651

less

Transportation

↑ 20.1%

Lompoc, CA

$1,433

Lake Elsinore, CA

$1,721

Difference

$288

Groceries

↑ 9.6%

Lompoc, CA

$768

Lake Elsinore, CA

$842

Difference

$73.59

Other

↑ 4.8%

Lompoc, CA

$1,311

Lake Elsinore, CA

$1,375

Difference

$63.09

All Utilities

↑ 9.6%

Lompoc, CA

$412

Lake Elsinore, CA

$452

Difference

$39.47

Healthcare

↑ 9.6%

Lompoc, CA

$408

Lake Elsinore, CA

$447

Difference

$39.05

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,530

To$2,235

↓ $295

1 Bed

From$2,835

To$2,335

↓ $500

2 Bed

From$3,215

To$2,835

↓ $380

3 Bed

From$4,220

To$3,790

↓ $430

Lompoc, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,420–$3,250/mo

Lake Elsinore, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,210–$2,460/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 Lompoc, CA

$7,352

Monthly in Lake Elsinore, CA

$148

Difference

Home Values

Lompoc

Lake Elsinore

$574K

Median Value

$589K

↑ +0.4%

YoY Change

↓ -1.9%

↑ +39.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +37.3%

$574K

Price Range

$557K - $622K

Homes in Lake Elsinore are 3% more expensive than Lompoc

Calculate payment - Lompoc Calculate payment - Lake Elsinore

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

Lompoc, 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

Lake Elsinore, 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

Lompoc, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Lake Elsinore, 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

Lompoc

Lake Elsinore

50 Good

Air Quality

87 Moderate

52.2%

Good Air Days

11.7%

99 High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🫨

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌡

▲+2.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

2 days

Heat Days >95°F

89 days

▲+2.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

2 days

Heat Days >95°F

89 days

Before moving from Lompoc, CA to Lake Elsinore, CA

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Lompoc, CA vs Lake Elsinore, CA

How do the cost estimates for Lompoc, CA and Lake Elsinore, CA compare?

Lake Elsinore, CA has a modeled overall cost index 3.8% lower than Lompoc, 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 Lompoc, CA, the model estimates $148,227 in Lake Elsinore, 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 Lompoc, CA and Lake Elsinore, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,215/month in Lompoc, CA and $2,835/month in Lake Elsinore, 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.