What Is The Cost Of Living In Glendale, CA?

Los Angeles County is one of the most expensive places to live in America, and it encompasses many cities. One such city is Glendale, where housing, driving, education, and utility costs are quite high. With how well-known and beloved Glendale is, how much does it cost to live in this southern California city?

The median home value in Glendale is $769,900, and it comes with $3,004 per month in ownership costs. Renting is more affordable and averages $1,622 per month with $130 in basic utilities, like water and electricity. You can spend up to $370 per month on food as a single resident in Glendale, and high gas prices mean you may spend $2,138 each year on gasoline.

Yes, Glendale is expensive, but it is also a beautiful and fun place to live. Follow along as we dive deep into the cost of living in Glendale, CA.

Housing costs are exorbitantly high in Glendale, and that’s why only 33% of residents own their homes. The median home value in Glendale is $769,900, and that’s more than triple the national average in the United States. Glendale has higher housing costs than the city of Los Angeles, and it’s one of the most expensive cities in California.

Homeowners in Glendale spend an average of $3,004 per month in homeownership costs, and most of that goes to mortgage payments. Generally, less than $800 of homeownership costs in Glendale is due to bills, repairs, and maintenance. The high cost of utilities and maintenance is a major expense for homeowners in Glendale, CA.

California has the second highest average rent in the country, but rental prices vary based on the city that you live in. Some cities in California – such as Los Angeles and San Francisco – boast the highest recorded apartment rental rates in the U.S. Though, renting in Glendale is much more affordable than owning. The average monthly rent for an apartment in Glendale is $1,622.

Glendale offers lower rent costs than most major cities in California, such as San Francisco and Los Angeles. It makes sense that nearly 70% of Glendale residents are renters considering how much lower monthly expenses are than owning a home.

Basic utilities, such as water and electricity, cost an average of $130 per month for Glendale residents. That mat sounds high, but utility bills are 25%-30% below the national average in Los Angeles County. You generally pay $0.20 per kilowatt-hour for electricity in Glendale, but many residents save a fortune using solar panels.

Other monthly costs in Glendale include telephone, internet, and cable services that vary in cost based on your provider. Internet bills usually cost $50-$60 per month, but they can cost as much as $90 or more depending on your plan. Cable plans vary in cost, but you won’t often spend less than $45-$65 per month in Glendale.

Utility costs for renters in Glendale are often up to $670 less than monthly homeownership costs in Los Angeles County. Of course, utility bills can get quite pricey when renting a home versus an apartment, but wise energy consumption can lower them.

At 7.25%, California has one of the highest minimum sales tax rates in the country. But, this rate only applies to less than a quarter of the cities in California. Because of the additional city and county sales taxes, you pay as much as 10.5% in sales tax. For example, Los Angeles County’s sales tax is 9.5%, but if you head over to Glendale and you can expect to pay a whopping 10.25% in sales tax.

This sales tax rate does not apply to gasoline, but you pay a tax of $0.50 per gallon at the pump in Glendale.

Surprisingly, California’s average effective property tax rate is lower than the national average (1.07%), at just 0.73%. Glendale is located in Los Angeles County, and the average effective property tax rate is 0.72%. This means that residents of Glendale spend an average of $3,938 each year in property tax payments to the county. California is home to the 8th highest property taxes, and Los Angeles County is among the highest rates in the state.

Unfortunately, property tax exemptions are hard to come by for Glendale, CA residents. Not even seniors qualify for special property tax exemptions like they do in most cities and states. Disabled veterans in Glendale may qualify for an exemption if they lost limbs or eyesight in the line of duty. Homeowners can receive an exemption of a mere $70 if they can claim their home as your sole residence. This doesn’t make a huge dent in your property tax payment at all, but it’s the most that Glendale residents can usually get.

Passed in 1978, Proposition 13 set the maximum allowable property tax rate in California at 1% of the home’s assessed value. It also limited the increase in assessed value to 2% every year, unless the home had undergone construction or changed ownership.

This law has continued to help property tax payments in Glendale, and the rest of the state, stay underneath the national average.

Education can get quite expensive for Glendale residents when it comes to private schooling in Los Angeles County. Elementary school can cost $11,600 per year for private tuition in Glendale, or even more. High school is more expensive in Glendale, and private tuition costs an average of $19,996 per year.

You can save a pretty penny as a parent in Glendale by sending your children to public school and dodge private tuition fees. The Glendale Unified School District is highly regarded and encompasses nearly 26,000 students. College-age Glendale students have access to the Glendale Community College where in-state residents pay only $1,175 per year.

Otherwise, nearby colleges such as the University of Southern California are quite pricey and start at $30,000 per year. Woodbury University is close to Glendale as well, and this Burbank college costs $28,000 per year before scholarships and aid.

Glendale is a driving town due to how spread out Los Angeles County is, and that means it’s also expensive. Gasoline costs an average of $3.26 per gallon in Glendale, and that can add up to $2,138 per year before gasoline tax is applied. The average driver in the United States uses 656 gallons of gasoline per year, but that number can increase in Glendale due to the high volume of traffic.

Car repairs are expensive in Glendale and all of LA County as well, and the average cost is $390 per repair. Simple maintenance, such as oil changes and tire rotations, can often cost between $92 and $160 in Glendale.

The average resident in Glendale spends $2,755 each year on auto insurance due to the high volume of accidents and drivers. Places like LA County that have many uninsured drivers often carry high car insurance premiums. Car insurance is nearly double the United States average of $1,548 per year in premiums.

Though, keep in mind that your rate can vary based on a number of other factors including your age, driving record, the insurance company that you choose, and whether you opt for full or minimum coverage.

Glendale is an expensive place to live with a high cost of living. Similar to the cost of living in Irvine, housing prices are exorbitant and average $3,004 per month in expenses. The median home value in Glendale, CA is $769,900, and that’s triple the United States average.

Renting is more affordable than owning in Glendale, and it costs an average of $1,622 per month. Basic utilities start at $130 per month in Glendale, but you can factor in another $100-$150 for internet, cable, and phone services. The property tax rate in Glendale is 0.72%, and homeowners spend an average of $3,938 each year in payments.

Glendale is unique, beautiful, full of culture, and boasts perfect weather. If you can look beyond the high cost of living, Glendale is a great place to live. When you weigh the pros and cons of living in California, the living expenses are often worth it for the setting.