Salinas, CA vs Oxnard, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Oxnard, CA is 1.4% more expensive than Salinas, CA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Salinas works out to about $76,000 in Oxnard, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 17.5% more in Oxnard. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $2,955 a month in Oxnard and $2,771 in Salinas, $2,208 a year more in Oxnard (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $870,000 in Oxnard and $841,000 in Salinas.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.9%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 17.5% higher in Oxnard than in Salinas
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Salinas, CA
- Oxnard, CA
All items Salinas, CA: 109.0 Oxnard, CA: 110.5
Goods Salinas, CA: 105.2 Oxnard, CA: 105.2
Housing (rents) Salinas, CA: 145.7 Oxnard, CA: 171.1
Utilities Salinas, CA: 154.2 Oxnard, CA: 152.9
Other services Salinas, CA: 100.3 Oxnard, CA: 100.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Oxnard, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 109.0 | 110.5 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 145.7 | 171.1 |
| Utilities | 154.2 | 152.9 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| Category | Salinas | Oxnard | Oxnard vs Salinas |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 109.0 | 110.5 | +1.4% |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 145.7 | 171.1 | +17.5% |
| Utilities | 154.2 | 152.9 | −0.8% |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,771 | $2,955 | +6.6% |
| Typical home value | $841,000 | $870,000 | +3.4% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Salinas | $75,000 | $76,000 | +1.4% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Salinas and Oxnard has narrowed since 2008: 4.9 points then, 1.5 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Salinas, CA
- Oxnard, CA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Oxnard, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 104.6 | 109.5 |
| 2009 | 107.7 | 110.4 |
| 2010 | 106.8 | 109.4 |
| 2011 | 109.4 | 109.6 |
| 2012 | 110.1 | 110.4 |
| 2013 | 108.9 | 111.2 |
| 2014 | 106.6 | 113.1 |
| 2015 | 106.0 | 113.2 |
| 2016 | 104.8 | 111.2 |
| 2017 | 107.8 | 108.1 |
| 2018 | 112.1 | 114.0 |
| 2019 | 111.5 | 112.4 |
| 2020 | 110.3 | 111.3 |
| 2021 | 109.3 | 111.4 |
| 2022 | 113.1 | 114.4 |
| 2023 | 113.2 | 113.7 |
| 2024 | 109.0 | 110.5 |
Goods
- Salinas, CA
- Oxnard, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Oxnard, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.1 | 103.6 |
| 2009 | 101.4 | 100.8 |
| 2010 | 97.3 | 98.5 |
| 2011 | 99.0 | 99.7 |
| 2012 | 99.8 | 102.0 |
| 2013 | 98.2 | 105.3 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 104.7 |
| 2015 | 94.9 | 103.2 |
| 2016 | 94.0 | 100.1 |
| 2017 | 99.8 | 99.3 |
| 2018 | 105.3 | 105.3 |
| 2019 | 104.8 | 104.8 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 106.9 | 106.9 |
| 2022 | 109.0 | 109.0 |
| 2023 | 104.9 | 104.9 |
| 2024 | 105.2 | 105.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Salinas, CA
- Oxnard, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Oxnard, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 158.2 | 184.0 |
| 2009 | 149.0 | 186.9 |
| 2010 | 159.4 | 187.7 |
| 2011 | 159.3 | 193.1 |
| 2012 | 163.3 | 191.5 |
| 2013 | 166.7 | 193.5 |
| 2014 | 151.0 | 190.9 |
| 2015 | 161.6 | 185.4 |
| 2016 | 155.0 | 185.3 |
| 2017 | 164.9 | 186.2 |
| 2018 | 164.4 | 189.7 |
| 2019 | 168.6 | 190.0 |
| 2020 | 164.6 | 176.1 |
| 2021 | 159.5 | 188.2 |
| 2022 | 159.5 | 174.8 |
| 2023 | 166.6 | 177.6 |
| 2024 | 145.7 | 171.1 |
Utilities
- Salinas, CA
- Oxnard, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Oxnard, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.7 | 113.7 |
| 2009 | 96.4 | 111.7 |
| 2010 | 110.4 | 113.8 |
| 2011 | 112.8 | 116.4 |
| 2012 | 116.1 | 124.0 |
| 2013 | 115.3 | 119.3 |
| 2014 | 121.2 | 132.6 |
| 2015 | 121.3 | 131.8 |
| 2016 | 115.5 | 132.8 |
| 2017 | 110.4 | 139.5 |
| 2018 | 120.2 | 117.0 |
| 2019 | 128.6 | 125.7 |
| 2020 | 130.6 | 128.2 |
| 2021 | 140.8 | 137.8 |
| 2022 | 144.7 | 142.4 |
| 2023 | 138.4 | 135.5 |
| 2024 | 154.2 | 152.9 |
Other services
- Salinas, CA
- Oxnard, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Oxnard, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.7 | 98.1 |
| 2009 | 100.7 | 99.9 |
| 2010 | 98.8 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 102.5 | 99.1 |
| 2012 | 102.4 | 98.9 |
| 2013 | 101.1 | 98.8 |
| 2014 | 101.0 | 101.7 |
| 2015 | 99.8 | 103.8 |
| 2016 | 98.9 | 101.9 |
| 2017 | 99.2 | 97.6 |
| 2018 | 103.7 | 103.7 |
| 2019 | 101.8 | 101.8 |
| 2020 | 100.4 | 100.4 |
| 2021 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| 2022 | 103.9 | 103.9 |
| 2023 | 104.2 | 104.2 |
| 2024 | 100.3 | 100.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,955 in Oxnard vs $2,771 in Salinas
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Salinas, CA
- Oxnard, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Oxnard, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,515 | $1,709 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,551 | $1,764 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,550 | $1,773 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,637 | $1,777 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,647 | $1,805 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,713 | $1,836 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,733 | $1,863 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,717 | $1,861 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,790 | $1,901 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,829 | $1,927 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,834 | $1,964 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,855 | $1,969 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,882 | $2,006 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,936 | $2,024 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,964 | $2,044 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,936 | $2,061 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,964 | $2,084 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $2,013 | $2,095 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $2,058 | $2,100 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $2,040 | $2,103 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $2,043 | $2,145 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $2,048 | $2,136 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $2,111 | $2,178 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $2,152 | $2,238 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $2,155 | $2,280 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $2,205 | $2,382 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $2,337 | $2,473 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,337 | $2,541 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,360 | $2,592 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,447 | $2,632 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,458 | $2,649 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,482 | $2,662 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,517 | $2,667 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,526 | $2,695 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,583 | $2,730 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,532 | $2,735 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,602 | $2,781 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,614 | $2,807 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,667 | $2,824 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,709 | $2,832 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,787 | $2,907 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,744 | $2,917 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,750 | $2,899 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,743 | $2,888 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,790 | $2,934 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,909 | $2,958 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,771 | $2,955 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $870,000 in Oxnard vs $841,000 in Salinas
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Salinas, CA
- Oxnard, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Oxnard, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $430K | $503K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $439K | $510K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $448K | $516K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $464K | $527K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $478K | $539K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $482K | $544K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $487K | $547K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $499K | $556K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $512K | $568K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $519K | $574K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $526K | $579K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $535K | $591K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $545K | $602K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $553K | $606K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $558K | $607K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $567K | $610K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $573K | $613K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $578K | $614K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $581K | $613K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $587K | $617K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $597K | $627K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $606K | $631K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $618K | $640K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $649K | $672K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $679K | $701K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $718K | $735K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $740K | $754K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $755K | $766K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $797K | $811K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $830K | $850K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $811K | $835K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $793K | $813K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $781K | $798K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $795K | $813K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $815K | $836K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $825K | $846K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $828K | $854K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $843K | $872K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $847K | $877K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $849K | $876K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $846K | $875K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $836K | $868K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $831K | $861K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $832K | $865K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $831K | $866K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $834K | $866K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $841K | $870K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.