California Cost of Living & Rents (2026)
Compare HUD Fair Market Rents, living wages, and composite living cost indices across all 30 benchmark metropolitan areas in California.
Data updated · Sources: HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget · Methodology
Metropolitan Areas in California
| Metro Area | COL Index | HUD 1BR Rent | HUD 2BR Rent | Living Wage | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 230.4 | $3,390/mo | $4,254/mo | $50.95/hr | View |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 198.6 | $2,778/mo | $3,272/mo | $43.92/hr | View |
| Salinas, CA | 192.6 | $2,009/mo | $2,416/mo | $42.59/hr | View |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 189.7 | $2,711/mo | $3,106/mo | $41.95/hr | View |
| Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA | 181.4 | $2,610/mo | $3,057/mo | $40.11/hr | View |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 180.4 | $3,003/mo | $3,697/mo | $39.91/hr | View |
| San Benito County, CA | 179.3 | $2,296/mo | $3,004/mo | $39.66/hr | View |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 168.6 | $2,335/mo | $2,823/mo | $37.29/hr | View |
| Napa, CA | 167.7 | $2,580/mo | $3,375/mo | $37.08/hr | View |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 163.3 | $2,155/mo | $2,819/mo | $36.12/hr | View |
| Oakland-Fremont, CA | 163.1 | $2,290/mo | $2,805/mo | $36.06/hr | View |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 160.8 | $2,035/mo | $2,424/mo | $35.55/hr | View |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 154.7 | $2,079/mo | $2,720/mo | $34.21/hr | View |
| Vallejo, CA | 150.7 | $1,876/mo | $2,342/mo | $33.32/hr | View |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 146.6 | $1,705/mo | $2,103/mo | $32.41/hr | View |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 144.6 | $1,793/mo | $2,201/mo | $31.97/hr | View |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 144.2 | $2,402/mo | $2,964/mo | $31.89/hr | View |
| Yolo, CA | 142.6 | $1,670/mo | $2,135/mo | $31.53/hr | View |
| Redding, CA | 123.8 | $1,209/mo | $1,581/mo | $27.38/hr | View |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 121.0 | $1,628/mo | $2,015/mo | $26.76/hr | View |
| Yuba City, CA | 119.8 | $1,367/mo | $1,600/mo | $26.50/hr | View |
| Chico, CA | 118.4 | $1,190/mo | $1,509/mo | $26.19/hr | View |
| Madera County, CA | 117.5 | $1,272/mo | $1,460/mo | $25.99/hr | View |
| Merced, CA | 114.9 | $1,262/mo | $1,517/mo | $25.41/hr | View |
| Modesto, CA | 114.7 | $1,378/mo | $1,803/mo | $25.37/hr | View |
| Fresno, CA | 114.5 | $1,363/mo | $1,685/mo | $25.32/hr | View |
| Visalia, CA | 113.8 | $1,108/mo | $1,450/mo | $25.16/hr | View |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 113.7 | $1,183/mo | $1,512/mo | $25.15/hr | View |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 108.0 | $1,273/mo | $1,656/mo | $23.88/hr | View |
| El Centro, CA | 102.8 | $1,030/mo | $1,347/mo | $22.75/hr | View |
Comprehensive 2026 cost of living analysis for California. Compare HUD Fair Market Rents, living wages, state income tax impact, and metropolitan living costs. Official 2026 economic data for California compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
Its metros average a cost-of-living index of 148.1 (U.S. = 100), from EPI family budgets. Average one-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent across its metros is about $1,899 a month.
The average living wage for a single adult in California is approximately $32.75/hour, while a family with two adults and one child requires roughly $29.23/hour to cover basic necessities.