Cost of living in South El Monte, CA — Housing, Rent & Index

Housing, rent, and a comparison to the US average.

$763,941
Median home value
/mo
Median rent
215
Cost index (US=100)
+0.1%
Home YoY change

The median home value in South El Monte, CA is $763,941 as of 2026-04. That places South El Monte above the US average for housing cost, with a cost index of approximately 215 versus a national baseline of 100.

Over the past 12 months, the median home value in South El Monte has moved sideways, and over the past five years it has averaged +5.6% annual growth. The current price sits -1.8% from its 5-year peak in 2025-01.

Beyond housing, day-to-day costs in South El Monte are shaped by state and local taxes, utility rates, transportation, and groceries. This page focuses on the housing component, which is the largest single line in most household budgets and the easiest to compare across cities using consistent national data.

Housing

Median home value$763,941
1-year change+0.1%
5-year CAGR+5.6%
10-year CAGR+6.8%
vs 5-year peak-1.8%

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI).

How South El Monte compares

Cost index215 (above US)
Median home vs US (~$355k)+115.2%
Population19,121
Momentum score61 (Stable)

Cost index is currently a housing-only proxy; full BLS basket coming with ACS pull.

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.