City Comparison

Beaumont vs Lancaster

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

Texas
78
Very Affordable
$166,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

Lancaster

California
128
Expensive
$447,000
Median Home
$1,625/mo
Median Rent
$81,500
Median Income

The Verdict

39.1%

Beaumont is 39.1% less expensive than Lancaster overall. A household earning $75,000 in Beaumont would need approximately $123,077 in Lancaster to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
81
Beaumont
148
Lancaster
Groceries
96
Beaumont
109
Lancaster
Utilities
102
Beaumont
111
Lancaster
Transportation
93
Beaumont
138
Lancaster
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
96
Lancaster

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $123,077 in Lancaster.

Conversely, $75,000 in Lancaster equals $45,703 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs Lancaster

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is lower Lancaster's 148, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $447,000. The $281,000 difference in home prices means roughly $18,264 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $1,625/mo in Lancaster, a monthly difference of $625.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 109 in Lancaster. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $518/month in Lancaster. Beaumont offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $744/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Beaumont and 111 in Lancaster. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $444 in Lancaster. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont and 96 in Lancaster. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $57,000 in Beaumont and $81,500 in Lancaster. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $63,672 respectively. Beaumont residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $1,902/month in Lancaster. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Lancaster, median rent of $1,625/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 67 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 39.1% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 128.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $123,077 in Lancaster, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while Lancaster's is 148 with median homes at $447,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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