How expensive is El Segundo?
Housing is what makes El Segundo expensive; most other bills are close to the Los Angeles County norm. Zillow's typical home value was $1,719,205 in September 2026, about double what Hawthorne next door costs on the same measure and about half of Manhattan Beach. Zillow's observed rent for the city was $3,253 a month, up 3.3% in a year and 26.0% in five years. The Census Bureau's 2020-2024 survey put the median household income at $150,737, so a typical household here earns well above the county living wage but still spends a large share on housing.
The figures on this page are monthly unless stated, and each names its source and date. For county-wide context see our California cost of living guide.
Housing costs in El Segundo
Buying a home in El Segundo: the monthly payment
Redfin's median sale price was $1,624,227 for the three months to September 2026. With 20% down ($324,845) at Freddie Mac's 30-year average of 7.24% (week of October 29, 2026), principal and interest come to about $8,855 a month. A condo is a different budget: on Redfin's 90245 condo median of $649,981, the same terms give about $3,544. Our El Segundo condos guide lists recent sales and HOA dues.
Renting in El Segundo
Zillow's observed rent of $3,253 a month (September 2026) tracks asking rents on listings. The Census median gross rent, which includes long-standing tenancies and utilities paid by tenants, was $2,556 for 2020-2024. About 57% of the city's occupied homes are rented, so renting is the usual way in. The city's Housing Element noted that most rentals are in buildings of three or more units.
Property tax on an El Segundo home
The Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller's 2026-27 rate for tax rate area 3708, one of the El Segundo areas, is 1.144919%: the 1% base, 0.11374% for El Segundo Unified bonds, 0.022679% for the community college district and 0.0085% for the Metropolitan Water District. On a $1,624,227 purchase, minus the $7,000 homeowners' exemption, the first full-year bill is about $18,516, or $1,543 a month, before any direct assessments listed on the bill. The rate was 1.109152% in 2025-26. See our Los Angeles County property tax guide.
Homeowners insurance in El Segundo
We found no official average premium for the city. Get two quotes for the specific house before you remove contingencies, and price earthquake cover separately; standard policies exclude it. Our homeowners insurance guide and earthquake insurance guide explain the options.
HOA dues and special taxes
Townhouse and condo dues on nine El Segundo sales between May and October 2026 ranged from $250 to $665 a month on MLSListings. None of those listings mentioned Mello-Roos taxes. Read the seller's tax bill for any special assessments before you offer.
Everyday costs in El Segundo
MIT's Living Wage Calculator gives typical yearly costs for Los Angeles County, updated February 15, 2026. They are county figures, not El Segundo-specific, so treat them as a guide.
Water and sewer bills in El Segundo
The city runs its own water and wastewater service. Its rates effective January 1, 2024 charge a capacity fee of $19.88 a month for a standard 3/4-inch residential meter, then $3.16 per hundred cubic feet (HCF) for the first 9 HCF, $5.99 for 10 to 13, and $7.51 for 14 or more. A household using 12 HCF a month (about 9,000 gallons) pays about $66 for water, plus a fixed wastewater fee of $51.09, for about $117 a month. Ask the city whether newer rates apply.
Electricity and gas in El Segundo
Ask the seller or landlord for 12 months of electricity and gas bills. Homes built before 1980, about 73% of the city's stock, often have older windows and insulation; homes treated under the LAX sound insulation program got new windows and ventilation, which can also cut energy use.
Groceries in El Segundo
MIT puts food for one adult at $4,463 a year and for two adults with two children at $13,062.
Getting around El Segundo
MIT's transportation estimate is $8,681 a year for one adult. Many El Segundo residents work from home: the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 survey shows 35.1% of workers worked from home, 54.1% drove alone and the mean commute was 23.6 minutes.
Healthcare costs
MIT puts medical costs at $3,255 a year for one adult and $11,179 for two working adults with two children, including premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
Child care in El Segundo
Child care is the biggest non-housing cost for parents: MIT estimates $13,191 a year for one child and $26,634 for two. El Segundo Unified runs a child care department and Eagles' Nest Preschool; ask the district for current fees.
Internet and phone
MIT estimates $1,517 a year for one adult's internet and mobile service and $2,140 for a two-adult household.
Taxes in El Segundo
The sales tax rate in El Segundo is 10.75% from October 1, 2026, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, the same as Manhattan Beach and lower than Hawthorne's 11%. Property tax runs about 1.14% of assessed value in the area shown above. When you sell, the documentary transfer tax is the standard $1.10 per $1,000 because El Segundo is not one of the five county cities with an extra city rate. State income tax applies as anywhere in California. Sellers should read our capital gains guide, and owners 55 and over moving within the state our Prop 19 guide.
Salary needed to live in El Segundo
MIT's living wage is the pre-tax income a household needs for basic costs in Los Angeles County. It assumes county housing costs, which are lower than El Segundo's.
| Household (Los Angeles County) | Hourly living wage | Yearly income before tax |
|---|---|---|
| 1 adult, no children | $28.92 | $60,161 |
| 1 adult, 1 child | $50.23 | $104,483 |
| 2 working adults, no children | $19.06 each | $79,296 |
| 2 working adults, 2 children | $33.83 each | $140,735 |
Buying changes the math. Using the common lender guide that housing should take no more than 28% of gross income, principal, interest and tax on the $1,624,227 Redfin median ($10,398 a month) need about $445,600 a year. On the $649,981 condo median with $434 in dues and tax, the figure is about $196,800. Renting at Zillow's $3,253 at 30% of income needs about $130,100.
El Segundo vs nearby cities
All home values and rents below are Zillow's figures for September 2026; incomes are Census 2020-2024 medians.
| City | Zillow typical home value | Zillow observed rent | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Segundo | $1,719,205 | $3,253 | $150,737 |
| Manhattan Beach | $3,353,430 | $6,406 | $204,306 |
| Hermosa Beach | $2,272,277 | $3,970 | $166,442 |
| Redondo Beach | $1,473,478 | $3,483 | $150,245 |
| Torrance | $1,100,115 | $3,006 | $116,217 |
| Hawthorne | $863,012 | $2,151 | $75,848 |
El Segundo sits between the beach cities and the inland South Bay. Redondo Beach has a similar median income and slightly lower home values; Manhattan Beach costs about twice as much. See our Manhattan Beach cost of living and Redondo Beach cost of living pages.
Ways to lower your costs in El Segundo
- Buy attached. The 90245 condo median of $649,981 is about a third of the detached-house median of $1,869,528 (Redfin, three months to September 2026).
- File the homeowners' exemption. It cuts $7,000 from assessed value, about $80 a year at the 1.144919% rate. File with the county assessor after you move in.
- Check the LAX sound insulation program. Eligible homes inside the 65 dB contour and built before October 1, 1998 get new doors, windows and ventilation at no cost to the owner.
- Ask about lifeline water rates. The city's schedule includes a lower lifeline capacity charge of $9.94 a month and a lifeline usage rate of $1.58 per HCF for the first tier; ask the city who qualifies.
- Use the commute you already have. With over 70,000 jobs in the city in 2020 (Housing Element), working locally is an option for some residents and can cut transport costs.
Weighing the move overall? Read is El Segundo a good place to live.