Los Altos, CA vs Manhattan Beach, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Manhattan Beach, CA has a modeled overall cost index 5.5% lower than Los Altos, CA.

Los Altos, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $4,265 / month
Manhattan Beach, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,900 / 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 Los Altos, CA and Manhattan 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 Los Altos, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $82.41/month in Manhattan Beach, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,011 in Manhattan Beach, CA

Regional cost estimates: Los Altos, CA uses Fremont, CA. Manhattan Beach, CA uses Los Angeles, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 5.5%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$82.41

Savings

Annual Impact

$989

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.

Los Altos, CA

Population:30K

Cost Index:

164.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$4.69M

Manhattan Beach, CA

Population:33K

Cost Index:

155.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$3.07M

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Los Altos, CA

The Golden State

30K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 30K residents.

Manhattan Beach, CA

The Golden State

33K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 33K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Los Altos, CA vs Manhattan 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	Los Altos, CA	Manhattan Beach, CA	Difference	Change
Transportation	$847/mo	$1,219/mo	↑ $372more	43.9%
Housing	$4,139/mo	$3,938/mo	↓ $200less	4.8%
Other	$1,098/mo	$977/mo	↓ $121less	11.0%
Healthcare	$435/mo	$330/mo	↓ $105less	24.0%
Groceries	$695/mo	$620/mo	↓ $74.87less	10.8%
All Utilities	$286/mo	$332/mo	↑ $46.41more	16.2%

Transportation

↑ 43.9%

Los Altos, CA

$847

Manhattan Beach, CA

$1,219

Difference

$372

Housing

↓ 4.8%

Los Altos, CA

$4,139

Manhattan Beach, CA

$3,938

Difference

$200

less

Other

↓ 11.0%

Los Altos, CA

$1,098

Manhattan Beach, CA

$977

Difference

$121

less

Healthcare

↓ 24.0%

Los Altos, CA

$435

Manhattan Beach, CA

$330

Difference

$105

less

Groceries

↓ 10.8%

Los Altos, CA

$695

Manhattan Beach, CA

$620

Difference

$74.87

less

All Utilities

↑ 16.2%

Los Altos, CA

$286

Manhattan Beach, CA

$332

Difference

$46.41

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$3,210

To$2,790

↓ $420

1 Bed

From$3,625

To$3,130

↓ $495

2 Bed

From$4,265

To$3,900

↓ $365

3 Bed

From$5,620

To$4,940

↓ $680

Los Altos, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $3,540–$3,710/mo

Manhattan Beach, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $3,130–$3,130/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 Los Altos, CA

$7,418

Monthly in Manhattan Beach, CA

$82.41

Difference

Home Values

Los Altos

Manhattan Beach

$4.69M

Median Value

$3.07M

↑ +3.3%

YoY Change

↑ +3%

↑ +35.2%

5-Year Change

↑ +26%

$4.48M - $4.90M

Price Range

$3.07M

Homes in Manhattan Beach are 35% less expensive than Los Altos

Calculate payment - Los Altos Calculate payment - Manhattan 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

Los Altos, 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

Manhattan 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

Los Altos, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Manhattan 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

Los Altos

Manhattan Beach

49 Good

Air Quality

80 Moderate

53%

Good Air Days

10.4%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+2.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

5 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

▲+2.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

5 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

Before moving from Los Altos, CA to Manhattan 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 Manhattan Beach, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Los Altos, 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 Los Altos to Manhattan Beach moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Los Altos, CA vs Manhattan Beach, CA

How do the cost estimates for Los Altos, CA and Manhattan Beach, CA compare?

Manhattan Beach, CA has a modeled overall cost index 5.5% lower than Los Altos, 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 Los Altos, CA, the model estimates $149,011 in Manhattan 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 Los Altos, CA and Manhattan Beach, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $4,265/month in Los Altos, CA and $3,900/month in Manhattan 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.