Cost of living in California

Everyday prices in California run 10.7% above the US average, the 51st lowest of 51 states and DC.

By Sol Lakein, founder of Slower Sundays. Updated November 2026.

11% pricierEveryday prices¹51st lowest of 51
$725,000Typical home^2,3$3,984/mo mortgage
$2,239/mo2-bed rent⁴Utilities included
$147,544$150K in New York¹Buys the same life in California

California next to New York and the US

Longer bar = costs more.^1,4,2,3

CaliforniaUnited StatesNew York metro

Everyday prices
11% pricier than averageUS average · New York metro 13% pricier
Housing, rent included
54% pricier than averageUS average · New York metro 49% pricier
2-bedroom rent$2,239/mo
43% more than the USUS $1,563 · New York metro $1,997
Typical home for sale$725,000
73% more than the USUS $419,250 · New York metro $742,000Mortgage $3,984/mo, US $2,304, New York metro $4,078. 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32%.

How affordable is California?

Rent and home prices next to what households earn.⁶

$100,800

Typical household incomeA year · 12th highest of 51

27%

Of income goes to rentA year of 2-bed rent ($2,239/mo) against median income ($100,800). 49th lowest of 51.

7.2

Years of income to buy a home$725,000 median listing against $100,800 income. 49th lowest of 50.

Are people moving to California?

229,077 more people left California for other states than arrived between July 2024 and July 2025 (Census Bureau estimates).

YearLeftArrivedNet moves
2019-20-242,313
2020-21-470,759
2021-22-344,130
2022-23-343,891
2023-24-241,611
2024-25-229,077

Where Americans are moving⁵

Metro areas in California

Cheapest first. Tap one for its full cost of living.^1,4,2

Price levelUS averageShorter bar = cheaper, longer = pricier

Show 6 more

California next to its neighbors

The states that border California, on the same measures. The number is each state's national rank on everyday prices.^1,4,2

34NevadaAbout the US average
2-bed rent
$1,644
Typical home
$480,000
Net moves
+14,914
35Arizona1% pricier than average
2-bed rent
$1,699
Typical home
$459,900
Net moves
+31,107
40Oregon3% pricier than average
2-bed rent
$1,650
Typical home
$550,000
Net moves
+2,228
51CaliforniaThis state11% pricier than average
2-bed rent
$2,239
Typical home
$725,000
Net moves
-229,077

California by the numbers

Every figure on this page, as tables

California next to New York and the US

Place	Price level	Housing	Typical home	Monthly payment	2-bedroom rent
California	110.7	154.3	$725,000	$3,984	$2,239
United States	100.0	100.0	$419,250	$2,304	$1,563
New York metro	112.6	148.6	$742,000	$4,078	$1,997

Metro areas in California

Metro	Price level	2-bedroom rent	Typical home
Bakersfield, CA	100.9	$1,398	$396,500
Fresno, CA	102.2	$1,560	$469,500
Stockton-Lodi, CA	105.1	$1,667	$585,000
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	106.4	$1,940	$584,984
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA	106.7	$1,922	$599,950
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	110.4	$2,973	$1,388,472
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	110.5	$2,399	$942,076
San Diego-Carlsbad	111.9	$2,483	$888,450
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim	113.6	$2,328	$1,034,500
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward	115.6	$2,766	$957,475

California next to its neighbors

State	Price level	2-bedroom rent	Typical home	Net moves from other states
California	110.7	$2,239	$725,000	-229,077
Arizona	100.7	$1,699	$459,900	+31,107
Nevada	100.0	$1,644	$480,000	+14,914
Oregon	103.4	$1,650	$550,000	+2,228

Net moves from other states

Year (July to July)	Net moves from other states
2019-20	-242,313
2020-21	-470,759
2021-22	-344,130
2022-23	-343,891
2023-24	-241,611
2024-25	-229,077

States with a similar cost of living to California

Keep comparing

California cost of living: questions people ask

What is the cost of living in California?

Everyday prices in California run 10.7% above the US average, the 51st lowest of 51 states and DC (BEA, 2024). Housing costs, rent included, index at 154.3 against a US average of 100. The median listed home is $725,000 (Realtor.com, September 2026), about $3,984 a month in principal and interest. The median 2-bedroom rent is $2,239 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $147,544 in California.

Is California cheap or expensive to live in?

More expensive than average. California's regional price parity is 110.7, 10.7% above the US average (BEA, 2024).

How much does a house cost in California?

The median listed home in California is $725,000 as of September 2026 (Realtor.com via FRED), against $419,250 nationally. That ranks 49th lowest of 50. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest run about $3,984 a month.

How much is rent in California?

The median gross rent for a 2-bedroom in California is $2,239 a month, including utilities the renter pays, against $1,563 for the US (Census American Community Survey, 2025).

What salary in California equals $150,000 in New York?

About $147,544, using BEA regional price parities for California (110.7) and the New York metro (112.6), 2024.

Are people moving to California?

229,077 more people left California for other states than arrived between July 2024 and July 2025 (Census Bureau estimates).

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Notes on the numbers

1Everyday prices, housing costs and price levels: BEA regional price parities via FRED, 2024, where the US average is 100. In ranked lists, 1 is the cheapest.
2Homes: the typical home is the median listing price, Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026.
3Mortgage: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA.
4Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units, including utilities.
5Net moves: US Census Bureau population estimates, net domestic migration, July to July.
6Affordability: our arithmetic on Census median gross rent (2025), Census median household income (2025) and Realtor.com median listing price (September 2026). Rank 1 is the most affordable.

Sources for this page