Cost of Living in California

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to easily compare the cost of living in your current location to the cost of living in a new location. We use the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and salary differentials of over 300+ US cities to give you a comparison of costs and salary. Let us help you make an informed decision about what it will cost to live and work in the city of your dreams!
About California    California is a state in the Pacific Region of the United States. With 39.6 million residents, California is the most populous U.S. state and the thir....More
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour while California's state law sets the minimum wage rate at $15.5 per hour in 2023. Demands for a living wage that is fair to workers have resulted in numerous location-based changes to minimum wage levels. View future changes in the minimum wage in your location by visiting Minimum Wage Values in California
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Cost of Living Index in Major Cities of California

A comparison of the Cost of Living indexes across major California Cities compared to the national average. The calculations are based on the total cost of energy, food, healthcare, housing and transportation, among other factors.


City, State Compared to national average
City, State Los Angeles, California Compared to national average
+ 44.3%
City, State San Diego, California Compared to national average
+ 50.4%
City, State San Jose, California Compared to national average
+ 78.0%
City, State San Francisco, California Compared to national average
+ 86.5%
City, State Fresno, California Compared to national average
+ 0.3%
City, State Sacramento, California Compared to national average
+ 17.4%
City, State Long Beach, California Compared to national average
+ 38.4%
City, State Anaheim, California Compared to national average
+ 36.6%
City, State Antioch, California Compared to national average
+ 42.9%
City, State Apple Valley, California Compared to national average
+ 15.2%
City, State Bakersfield, California Compared to national average
-1.4%
City, State Berkeley, California Compared to national average
+ 67.0%
City, State Burbank, California Compared to national average
+ 44.3%
City, State Carlsbad, California Compared to national average
+ 49.8%
City, State Carson, California Compared to national average
+ 38.4%
City, State Chico, California Compared to national average
+ 11.0%
City, State Chula Vista, California Compared to national average
+ 50.3%
City, State Coachella, California Compared to national average
+ 15.4%
City, State Concord, California Compared to national average
+ 66.8%
City, State Corona, California Compared to national average
+ 16.7%
City, State Costa Mesa, California Compared to national average
+ 40.6%
City, State Daly City, California Compared to national average
+ 86.5%
City, State Downey, California Compared to national average
+ 41.3%
City, State El Cajon, California Compared to national average
+ 50.3%
City, State El Monte, California Compared to national average
+ 44.2%
City, State Elk Grove, California Compared to national average
+ 17.2%
City, State Escondido, California Compared to national average
+ 49.8%
City, State Fairfield, California Compared to national average
+ 31.0%
City, State Fontana, California Compared to national average
+ 17.0%
City, State Fremont, California Compared to national average
+ 77.7%
City, State Fullerton, California Compared to national average
+ 36.6%
City, State Garden Grove, California Compared to national average
+ 36.6%
City, State Glendale, California Compared to national average
+ 44.3%
City, State Hayward, California Compared to national average
+ 66.8%
City, State Huntington Beach, California Compared to national average
+ 39.0%
City, State Inglewood, California Compared to national average
+ 44.3%
City, State Irvine, California Compared to national average
+ 40.6%
City, State Lancaster, California Compared to national average
+ 43.7%
City, State Lompoc, California Compared to national average
+ 41.2%
City, State Modesto, California Compared to national average
+ 8.0%
City, State Monterey, California Compared to national average
+ 50.9%
City, State Moreno Valley, California Compared to national average
+ 17.0%
City, State Murrieta, California Compared to national average
+ 25.2%
City, State Newhall, California Compared to national average
+ 41.2%
City, State Norwalk, California Compared to national average
+ 37.5%
City, State Oakland, California Compared to national average
+ 67.0%
City, State Oceanside, California Compared to national average
+ 49.8%
City, State Ontario, California Compared to national average
+ 16.8%
City, State Orange, California Compared to national average
+ 40.6%
City, State Oxnard, California Compared to national average
+ 34.8%
City, State Palmdale, California Compared to national average
+ 43.7%
City, State Pasadena, California Compared to national average
+ 44.3%
City, State Petaluma, California Compared to national average
+ 45.0%
City, State Pomona, California Compared to national average
+ 36.3%
City, State Rancho Cucamonga, California Compared to national average
+ 15.9%
City, State Rialto, California Compared to national average
+ 15.0%
City, State Riverside, California Compared to national average
+ 17.0%
City, State Roseville, California Compared to national average
+ 17.2%
City, State Salinas, California Compared to national average
+ 50.6%
City, State San Bernardino, California Compared to national average
+ 15.0%
City, State Santa Ana, California Compared to national average
+ 40.4%
City, State Santa Barbara, California Compared to national average
+ 47.8%
City, State Santa Clara, California Compared to national average
+ 78.0%
City, State Santa Clarita, California Compared to national average
+ 43.7%
City, State Santa Cruz, California Compared to national average
+ 52.0%
City, State Santa Maria, California Compared to national average
+ 45.3%
City, State Santa Rosa, California Compared to national average
+ 39.0%
City, State Simi Valley, California Compared to national average
+ 38.7%
City, State Stockton, California Compared to national average
+ 11.3%
City, State Temecula, California Compared to national average
+ 24.9%
City, State Thousand Oaks, California Compared to national average
+ 38.4%
City, State Torrance, California Compared to national average
+ 38.4%
City, State Vallejo, California Compared to national average
+ 31.0%
City, State Ventura, California Compared to national average
+ 34.8%
City, State Victorville, California Compared to national average
+ 15.2%
City, State Visalia, California Compared to national average
-0.3%
City, State West Covina, California Compared to national average
+ 36.4%


Cost of Living by Cities in California


Cost of Living by Major Cities

Click to see the cost of living for these major U.S. cities.

San Francisco, CA
Washington, DC
Miami, FL
Chicago, IL
Boston, MA
New York, NY
Dallas, TX

If you'd like to know the cost of living in other cities, then please select a city in


About California

California is a state in the Pacific Region of the United States. With 39.6 million residents, California is the most populous U.S. state and the third-largest by area. The state capital is Sacramento. The Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation's second and fifth most populous urban regions, with 18.7 million and 9.7 million residents respectively. Los Angeles is California's most populous city, and the country's second most populous, after New York City. California also has the nation's most populous county, Los Angeles County, and its largest county by area, S...
Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/11/2019). Read more from Wikipedia


Comments about the Cost of Living in California

Buying a home and the cost of living

If you want to buy a home in the beautiful state of California, you will find that it is one of the highest residential home markets in the country. Purchasing a home can be a lengthy and complex process. Besides the down payment, which is usually 15-20% of the selling price, there will be closing costs. If you own a home in your former location the sale of that home needs to be completed as well. Once you have purchased and moved into your new home, there will be utility and maintenance costs as well as property taxes and home insurance that will contribute to your cost of living. The advantages of living in California are many, but the high cost of buying a home is not one of them. ( 2023-07-25 salary.com )

Healthcare access and affordability and your cost of living

California is ranked number 23 out of all states in overall healthcare access and affordability. Healthcare costs make up a significant part of the cost of living. The ability to afford healthcare as well as the ability to access care are key indicators of how much you will be paying for this important resource if you move to another state. Affordability is generally measured by the rates set for insurance coverage in a state, as well as the out-of-pocket expenses that need to be paid by you when receiving the care. If rates or out-of-pocket expenses are high, your cost of living will increase. Access to healthcare is how easy or difficult it may be to receive the care. Access is measured by identifying barriers that might prevent the delivery of care such as the inability to obtain insurance coverage, having to travel long distances to health care centers and lack of sufficient facilities and/or healthcare professionals. The timeliness of care, how fast you can get to see a healthcare provider, is another important measure. ( 2023-07-25 salary.com )


Cost of Living Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Cost of Living index and how is it used?

In the simplest terms, a Cost of Living index is the estimated amount that represents the cost of the basic necessities required for an individual to live. A cost of living or COL estimate may typically include estimates for housing, food, energy, medical care, transportation, taxes, and other necessities. A COL index may be used to measure what the cost difference would be for a person living in a certain location compared to another location. This cost of living comparison helps individuals make decisions about where they would like to live and what they can afford based on the costs in that location. A cost of living comparison can provide guidance about how an increase or decrease in these basic living expenses impacts necessary spending for an individual or a family. ( 2023-07-25 salary.com )

What factors are included in estimating your cost of living?

The Salary.com cost of living calculator estimate is based on data related to five general categories: housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and energy. These are the universally recognized core components of any cost of living estimate and represent those expenses that apply to everyone. Obviously, there may be other factors that could contribute to your particular cost of living situation and not everyone has the same spending habits. For example, education and/or childcare costs might not apply to everyone, but for those who have those expenses, they could be significant and should be considered when you evaluate your cost of living comparison. ( 2023-07-25 salary.com )

The Salary.com cost of living calculator is unique in that it also incorporates current salary data for thousands of jobs specific to a chosen home or work location to provide a more refined estimate of the cost of living variations. You can see how your job and your salary will be impacted by a change of location. If you live in one location but work in another, the cost of living calculator will make those adjustments to provide an accurate estimate of the change in COL. The Salary.com cost of living calculator helps you to make cost of living comparisons cost comparisons easily and quickly. ( 2023-07-25 salary.com )


Last Update: 2023-07-25