USA Cost of Living Compare US cities and states with official data

Cost of living in California

Statewide averages from BEA, with every metro area in the state compared.

Overall prices vs US average 110.7 10.7% more expensive than the US officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Rank among 51 states and DC 1st 1st = most expensive derivedFrom BEA, 2024
Housing (rents) vs US average 154.3 2nd highest housing costs officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Income per person, adjusted for prices $63,028 13th of 51, in 2017 dollars officialBEA real personal income, 2024

What the numbers say

  • Overall prices in California are 10.7% above the national average, the 1st most expensive of 51 states and DC (BEA 2024).
  • Housing is the main reason prices in California differ from the national level: housing costs (rents) are 54.3% above the US average, while goods are 6.1% above average and other services 2.6% above average.
  • Utilities stand out in California: household electricity, gas, water and sewer prices are 58.9% above the US average.
  • Within California, metro price levels run from 95.2 in El Centro, CA to 115.6 in San Francisco, CA (US = 100).
  • After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $63,028 in 2017 dollars, 13th of 51 (BEA 2024).
  • Relative to the US, the price level in California has barely moved: 111.2 in 2008, 111.1 in 2019 and 110.7 in 2024.

Written from this page's own figures. Price levels are for an average household basket and do not include taxes. How we calculate.

Where the money goes

Statewide price levels by category. Cities and rural areas within the state can differ a lot; see the metro table below.

In California, utilities is the category furthest from the US average: 58.9% above

Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.

All items
110.7
Goods
106.1
Housing (rents)
154.3
Utilities
158.9
Other services
102.6

Bars to the right of the line cost more than the US average; to the left, less.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
California
All items110.7
Goods106.1
Housing (rents)154.3
Utilities158.9
Other services102.6

Gas prices

Regular gasoline averaged $6.03 a gallon in California (statewide average) in the week of October 19, 2026, $1.75 more than the US average of $4.28. official

Gas prices in California · Work out your commute's gas cost

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, weekly retail gasoline prices, regular grade, including taxes.

Cheapest places to live in California

By overall prices, the cheapest of the 25 metro areas BEA measures in California are El Centro, CA (95.2), Merced, CA (98.3) and Visalia, CA (99.8); the most expensive is San Francisco, CA (115.6). US average = 100, BEA 2024. Rural areas are not listed separately.

El Centro, CA is the cheapest metro area in California (95.2); San Francisco, CA the most expensive (115.6)

Overall price level, 2024. US average = 100.

El Centro, CA
95.2
Merced, CA
98.3
Visalia, CA
99.8
Redding, CA
100.7
Bakersfield, CA
100.9
Chico, CA
101.2
Hanford, CA
101.6
Fresno, CA
102.2
Modesto, CA
104.1
Yuba City, CA
104.2
Stockton, CA
105.1
Riverside, CA
106.4
Sacramento, CA
106.7
Santa Rosa, CA
107.8
Vallejo, CA
108.5
San Luis Obispo, CA
108.6
Santa Maria, CA
108.8
Salinas, CA
109.0
Santa Cruz, CA
109.9
San Jose, CA
110.4
Oxnard, CA
110.5
San Diego, CA
111.9
Napa, CA
112.6
Los Angeles, CA
113.6
San Francisco, CA
115.6

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
All items
El Centro, CA95.2
Merced, CA98.3
Visalia, CA99.8
Redding, CA100.7
Bakersfield, CA100.9
Chico, CA101.2
Hanford, CA101.6
Fresno, CA102.2
Modesto, CA104.1
Yuba City, CA104.2
Stockton, CA105.1
Riverside, CA106.4
Sacramento, CA106.7
Santa Rosa, CA107.8
Vallejo, CA108.5
San Luis Obispo, CA108.6
Santa Maria, CA108.8
Salinas, CA109.0
Santa Cruz, CA109.9
San Jose, CA110.4
Oxnard, CA110.5
San Diego, CA111.9
Napa, CA112.6
Los Angeles, CA113.6
San Francisco, CA115.6
Metro area Overall Housing Goods Utilities Other services Typical rent
El Centro, CA 95.2 66.3 105.2 157.2 100.3 $1,803
Merced, CA 98.3 78.6 105.2 158.3 100.3 $2,059
Visalia, CA 99.8 84.1 105.2 156.4 100.3 $1,734
Redding, CA 100.7 89.4 105.2 157.7 100.3 $1,652
Bakersfield, CA 100.9 90.3 105.2 158.3 100.3 $1,822
Chico, CA 101.2 91.9 105.2 158.8 100.3 $1,549
Hanford, CA 101.6 93.5 105.2 157.4 100.3 $1,937
Fresno, CA 102.2 95.7 105.2 161.0 100.3 $2,052
Modesto, CA 104.1 108.5 105.2 152.3 100.3 $2,068
Yuba City, CA 104.2 108.3 105.2 160.8 100.3 $2,033
Stockton, CA 105.1 115.6 105.2 158.2 100.3 $2,431
Riverside, CA 106.4 129.3 101.4 148.6 101.3 $2,533
Sacramento, CA 106.7 130.2 105.2 151.3 100.3 $2,269
Santa Rosa, CA 107.8 139.6 105.2 154.8 100.3 $2,666
Vallejo, CA 108.5 142.0 105.2 155.0 100.3 $2,464
San Luis Obispo, CA 108.6 144.4 105.2 147.8 100.3 $2,802
Santa Maria, CA 108.8 151.4 105.2 149.8 100.3 $3,279
Salinas, CA 109.0 145.7 105.2 154.2 100.3 $2,771
Santa Cruz, CA 109.9 164.3 105.2 152.7 100.3 $3,469
San Jose, CA 110.4 211.9 105.2 156.7 100.3 $3,812
Oxnard, CA 110.5 171.1 105.2 152.9 100.3 $2,955
San Diego, CA 111.9 179.3 108.0 174.2 99.6 $2,967
Napa, CA 112.6 197.4 105.2 156.5 100.3 $2,906
Los Angeles, CA 113.6 170.4 106.6 158.6 104.4 $2,929
San Francisco, CA 115.6 194.7 108.5 172.6 106.2 $3,445

Price levels: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.

How prices have changed since 2008

Price levels relative to the whole country in each year, not inflation.

California has stayed above the US average since 2008

Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.

US average = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
California
2008111.2
2009110.7
2010109.7
2011109.5
2012109.7
2013109.7
2014109.9
2015110.7
2016110.0
2017111.0
2018111.9
2019111.1
2020111.9
2021111.9
2022112.6
2023112.2
2024110.7

Goods: 107.4 in 2008, 106.1 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
California
2008107.4
2009104.7
2010103.0
2011103.6
2012104.1
2013104.3
2014104.3
2015105.5
2016104.4
2017104.5
2018105.5
2019106.2
2020106.7
2021108.1
2022108.4
2023106.8
2024106.1

Housing (rents): 161.4 in 2008, 154.3 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
California
2008161.4
2009160.4
2010158.0
2011157.1
2012156.2
2013155.7
2014157.9
2015158.0
2016160.1
2017162.5
2018163.8
2019164.6
2020166.3
2021165.0
2022160.1
2023157.8
2024154.3

Utilities: 111.4 in 2008, 158.9 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
California
2008111.4
2009112.8
2010117.2
2011115.3
2012117.1
2013121.4
2014128.3
2015129.3
2016129.5
2017130.7
2018125.1
2019131.0
2020133.5
2021144.2
2022152.3
2023147.3
2024158.9

Other services: 101.9 in 2008, 102.6 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
California
2008101.9
2009102.0
2010101.7
2011101.6
2012101.9
2013101.8
2014101.9
2015102.8
2016101.9
2017103.3
2018104.3
2019102.4
2020101.9
2021102.1
2022103.9
2023104.4
2024102.6

What incomes buy here

BEA divides personal income by local prices, so a dollar in a cheap state counts for more. This is income per resident (wages, benefits, investment income), not household or take-home pay.

After adjusting for prices, income per person in California is $63,028, 13th of 51

Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for local price levels and inflation).

  • California
  • United States

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.

Show the numbers
CaliforniaUnited States
2008$43,788$45,816
2009$42,377$44,204
2010$43,503$44,808
2011$44,844$45,957
2012$46,162$46,796
2013$45,826$46,358
2014$47,472$47,661
2015$50,054$49,396
2016$51,802$49,828
2017$52,569$51,006
2018$53,523$52,242
2019$55,931$53,683
2020$59,993$56,514
2021$63,373$59,365
2022$59,126$57,104
2023$60,100$58,088
2024$63,028$59,195

Compare California with other states

States with similar prices

All states ranked · States ranked by what income buys

Compare two cities

Sources and limits

  • Price levels and real income: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state, 2008–2024. Last updated February 19, 2026: new statistics for 2024; revised statistics for 2008-2023. Downloaded 2026-10-21.
  • Metro price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities by metro area. Typical rent: Data Provided by Zillow Group.
  • State figures average cities and rural areas. Taxes are not included. BEA figures lag by about 18 months.

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