Malibu, CA vs Solana Beach, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Solana Beach, CA has a modeled overall cost index 14.3% lower than Malibu, CA.

Malibu, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,910 / month
Solana Beach, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $4,200 / 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 Malibu, CA and Solana 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 Malibu, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,250/month in Solana Beach, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $135,004 in Solana Beach, CA

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

Overall Cost

↓ 14.3%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,250

Savings

Annual Impact

$15.0K

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.

Malibu, CA

Population:10K

Cost Index:

151.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$3.13M

Solana Beach, CA

Population:13K

Cost Index:

129.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$2.12M

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Malibu, CA

The Golden State

10K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 10K residents.

Solana Beach, CA

The Golden State

13K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 13K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Malibu, CA vs Solana 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	Malibu, CA	Solana Beach, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,972/mo	$2,760/mo	↓ $1,212less	30.5%
Transportation	$1,229/mo	$922/mo	↓ $307less	25.0%
Other	$986/mo	$1,111/mo	↑ $125more	12.7%
Healthcare	$338/mo	$395/mo	↑ $57.41more	17.0%
All Utilities	$340/mo	$393/mo	↑ $52.63more	15.5%
Groceries	$635/mo	$669/mo	↑ $33.91more	5.3%

Housing

↓ 30.5%

Malibu, CA

$3,972

Solana Beach, CA

$2,760

Difference

$1,212

less

Transportation

↓ 25.0%

Malibu, CA

$1,229

Solana Beach, CA

$922

Difference

$307

less

Other

↑ 12.7%

Malibu, CA

$986

Solana Beach, CA

$1,111

Difference

$125

Healthcare

↑ 17.0%

Malibu, CA

$338

Solana Beach, CA

$395

Difference

$57.41

All Utilities

↑ 15.5%

Malibu, CA

$340

Solana Beach, CA

$393

Difference

$52.63

Groceries

↑ 5.3%

Malibu, CA

$635

Solana Beach, CA

$669

Difference

$33.91

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,800

To$3,200

↑ $400

1 Bed

From$3,140

To$3,440

↑ $300

2 Bed

From$3,910

To$4,200

↑ $290

3 Bed

From$4,970

To$5,600

↑ $630

Malibu, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $3,140–$3,140/mo

Solana Beach, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $3,440–$3,440/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 Malibu, CA

$6,250

Monthly in Solana Beach, CA

$1,250

Difference

Home Values

Malibu

Solana Beach

$3.13M

Median Value

$2.12M

↓ -3%

YoY Change

↑ +1%

↑ +22.6%

5-Year Change

↑ +52.2%

Homes in Solana Beach are 32% less expensive than Malibu

Calculate payment - Malibu Calculate payment - Solana 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

Malibu, 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

Solana 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

Malibu, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Solana 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

Malibu

Solana Beach

80 Moderate

Air Quality

71 Moderate

10.4%

Good Air Days

12.8%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌡

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.1°F

17 days

Heat Days >95°F

1 days

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.1°F

17 days

Heat Days >95°F

1 days

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Malibu, CA vs Solana Beach, CA

How do the cost estimates for Malibu, CA and Solana Beach, CA compare?

Solana Beach, CA has a modeled overall cost index 14.3% lower than Malibu, 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 Malibu, CA, the model estimates $135,004 in Solana 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 Malibu, CA and Solana Beach, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,910/month in Malibu, CA and $4,200/month in Solana 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.