Compare My CityCost of Living in California
We track 25 metro areas in California. The average of the 25 metros we track in California is 106.1 on the BEA's overall price index — 6.1% above the US average of 100. El Centro, CA is the least expensive at 95.2, while San Francisco, CA is the most expensive at 115.6. Figures reflect 2024 data from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis.
See all states or the full A–Z list of metros.
Metro areas in California
| Metro | Overall RPP | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | 100.9 | +0.9% |
| Chico, CA | 101.2 | +1.2% |
| El Centro, CA | 95.2 | −4.8% |
| Fresno, CA | 102.2 | +2.2% |
| Hanford, CA | 101.6 | +1.6% |
| Los Angeles, CA | 113.6 | +13.6% |
| Merced, CA | 98.3 | −1.7% |
| Modesto, CA | 104.1 | +4.1% |
| Napa, CA | 112.6 | +12.6% |
| Oxnard, CA | 110.5 | +10.5% |
| Redding, CA | 100.7 | +0.7% |
| Riverside, CA | 106.4 | +6.4% |
| Sacramento, CA | 106.7 | +6.7% |
| Salinas, CA | 109.0 | +9.0% |
| San Diego, CA | 111.9 | +11.9% |
| San Francisco, CA | 115.6 | +15.6% |
| San Jose, CA | 110.4 | +10.4% |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | 108.6 | +8.6% |
| Santa Cruz, CA | 109.9 | +9.9% |
| Santa Maria, CA | 108.8 | +8.8% |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 107.8 | +7.8% |
| Stockton, CA | 105.1 | +5.1% |
| Vallejo, CA | 108.5 | +8.5% |
| Visalia, CA | 99.8 | −0.2% |
| Yuba City, CA | 104.2 | +4.2% |