Westlake Village, CA vs Pacific Grove, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Pacific Grove, CA has a modeled overall cost index 20.8% higher than Westlake Village, CA.

Westlake Village, CA · modeled 2BR rent
$3,365 / month
Pacific Grove, CA · modeled 2BR rent
$3,560 / 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 Westlake Village, CA and Pacific Grove, 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,061/month in Pacific Grove, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $162,735 in Pacific Grove, CA

Regional cost estimates: Westlake Village, CA uses Oxnard, CA. Pacific Grove, CA uses San Jose, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 20.8%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,061
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$12.7K
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.

Westlake Village, CA

Population:8K
Cost Index:
135.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$1.34M

Pacific Grove, CA

Population:15K
Cost Index:
163.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$1.34M

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Westlake Village, CA

The Golden State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Pacific Grove, CA

The Golden State

15K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 15K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Westlake Village, CA vs Pacific Grove, 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.

Housing
↑ 60.1%
Westlake Village, CA
$3,214
Pacific Grove, CA
$5,144
Difference
$1,930
more
Transportation
↓ 42.8%
Westlake Village, CA
$1,454
Pacific Grove, CA
$832
Difference
$622
less
Other
↓ 18.9%
Westlake Village, CA
$1,331
Pacific Grove, CA
$1,079
Difference
$252
less
All Utilities
↓ 21.9%
Westlake Village, CA
$390
Pacific Grove, CA
$304
Difference
$85.43
less
Healthcare
↑ 20.0%
Westlake Village, CA
$385
Pacific Grove, CA
$463
Difference
$77.11
more
Groceries
↑ 1.8%
Westlake Village, CA
$726
Pacific Grove, CA
$739
Difference
$13.04
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$2,480
To$2,880
↑ $400
1 Bed
From$2,790
To$2,960
↑ $170
2 Bed
From$3,365
To$3,560
↑ $195
3 Bed
From$4,500
To$4,800
↑ $300
Westlake Village, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,760–$2,820/mo

Pacific Grove, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,960–$2,960/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 Westlake Village, CA
$8,561
Monthly in Pacific Grove, CA
$1,061
Difference

Home Values

Westlake Village
Pacific Grove
$1.34M
Median Value
$1.34M
↑ +1%
YoY Change
↓ -1.9%
↑ +32.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +32%
$1.17M - $1.50M
Price Range
$1.34M

Homes in Pacific Grove are 1% more expensive than Westlake Village

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
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Westlake Village, 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

Pacific Grove, 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

Westlake Village, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%
Property Tax:0.8%

Pacific Grove, 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

Westlake Village
Pacific Grove
50 Good
Air Quality
47 Good
52.2%
Good Air Days
55.4%
99 High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🔥🌊🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌅🌡
▲+2.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.0°F
2 days
Heat Days >95°F
11 days
▲+2.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.0°F
2 days
Heat Days >95°F
11 days

Before moving from Westlake Village, CA to Pacific Grove, CA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Pacific Grove, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Westlake Village, CA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Westlake Village to Pacific Grove moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Westlake Village, CA vs Pacific Grove, CA

How do the cost estimates for Westlake Village, CA and Pacific Grove, CA compare?

Pacific Grove, CA has a modeled overall cost index 20.8% higher than Westlake Village, 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 Westlake Village, CA, the model estimates $162,735 in Pacific Grove, 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 Westlake Village, CA and Pacific Grove, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,365/month in Westlake Village, CA and $3,560/month in Pacific Grove, 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.

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