Cost of Living in California (CA)
Compare costs across 39 California cities. From home services to salaries, see how CA stacks up against the national average.
39
Cities
144
Avg Cost Index
$73K
Avg Income
Direct Answer
California's average cost index is 144, which is above the national baseline of 100. Victorville is the most affordable tracked city in CA at index 98, while San Francisco is the most expensive at index 244.
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive tracked cities is 146 index points, so state-level averages should be used as a map, not a final budget.
State cost overviewBLS, Census, HUD inputsLast verified May 2026
California Highlights: Most affordable city: Victorville (index 98). Most expensive: San Francisco (index 244). The gap between cheapest and most expensive is 146 index points.
What Drives the Statewide Cost Picture?
Average index
144/100
California is above the national cost baseline across tracked cities.
Cheapest city
Victorville
Victorville has a cost index of 98.
Most expensive
San Francisco
San Francisco has a cost index of 244.
Income average
$73K
Average median household income across 39 tracked CA cities.
Cheapest and Most Expensive Cities in California
| City | Population | Cost Index | Median Income | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 4.0M | 166 | $65K | major |
| San Diego | 1.4M | 160 | $80K | major |
| San Jose | 1.0M | 214 | $117K | large |
| San Francisco | 874K | 244 | $119K | major |
| Fresno | 542K | 104 | $50K | mid |
| Sacramento | 525K | 122 | $62K | large |
| Long Beach | 467K | 155 | $62K | mid |
| Oakland | 433K | 190 | $76K | mid |
| Bakersfield | 403K | 100 | $58K | mid |
| Anaheim | 350K | 162 | $72K | mid |
| Stockton | 321K | 108 | $53K | mid |
| Riverside | 315K | 120 | $65K | mid |
| Santa Ana | 310K | 158 | $61K | mid |
| Irvine | 308K | 175 | $108K | mid |
| Modesto | 218K | 106 | $53K | mid |
| Fontana | 215K | 122 | $72K | mid |
| Moreno Valley | 212K | 118 | $63K | mid |
| Oxnard | 202K | 140 | $68K | mid |
| Huntington Beach | 199K | 158 | $97K | mid |
| Santa Rosa | 178K | 155 | $72K | small |
| Rancho Cucamonga | 178K | 128 | $84K | mid |
| Oceanside | 176K | 142 | $69K | mid |
| Elk Grove | 176K | 122 | $90K | mid |
| Ontario | 175K | 118 | $63K | mid |
| Hayward | 163K | 152 | $78K | mid |
| Sunnyvale | 156K | 218 | $140K | mid |
| Roseville | 148K | 126 | $86K | mid |
| Visalia | 141K | 102 | $55K | mid |
| Victorville | 135K | 98 | $48K | mid |
| Concord | 129K | 138 | $75K | mid |
| Simi Valley | 126K | 148 | $100K | mid |
| Vallejo | 122K | 128 | $64K | mid |
| Chico | 101K | 108 | $43K | mid |
| Redding | 93K | 104 | $48K | small |
| Santa Barbara | 89K | 180 | $69K | small |
| Napa | 79K | 168 | $78K | small |
| Santa Cruz | 65K | 175 | $67K | small |
| Palm Springs | 49K | 135 | $49K | small |
| San Luis Obispo | 47K | 148 | $55K | small |
California State Taxes (2026)
Headline tax rates that affect your real take-home pay and total cost of living in California.
State Income Tax
1-13.3%
progressive system
Combined Sales Tax
8.85%
7.25% state + 1.6% avg local
Property Tax (Effective)
0.71%
~$2,130/yr on a $300K home
Income tax: California uses a progressive income tax at 1-13.3%. No state estate tax. Estimate your take-home pay
State Planning Checklist
- Start with Victorville if the priority is lowest recurring cost inside California.
- Compare San Francisco against salary and tax advantages before assuming the higher-cost city is worse.
- Use city pages for rent, salary, insurance, and local service costs before making a relocation decision.