| Index | California City | California | National |
| Cost of living | 108 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 117 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 89 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 117 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 135 | 127 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in California City? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in California City stands at 108, making it 8% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
In California City, daily expenses such as food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in California City will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 10 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in California City and this is how they responded. 80% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 20% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is California City an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in California City is 13.5% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 6.2% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. California City has a median household income of $70,182, which is 13.7% lower than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In California City, the groceries index is 9.1% higher than the national average.
Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In California City, the transportation index stands at 17.1% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In California City, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 7.25%, and income tax rates start at 1%.
The California City cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $93,902 | $7,825 | $2,191 | $2,817 |
| Renters | $38,452 | $3,204 | $897 | $1,154 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| California | 7.25% | 10.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| California | 1% | 13.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| North Edwards, CA | 924 | 96 | 4.1% |
| Mojave, CA | 3,873 | 103 | 3.0% |
| Edwards AFB, CA | 2,749 | 137 | 36.8% |
| California City, CA | 14,506 | 108 | 8.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Circleville, OH | 14,509 | 89 | 10.5% |
| Mount Dora, FL | 14,517 | 113 | 13.1% |
| Gardendale, AL | 14,518 | 98 | 1.6% |
| Bayou Blue, LA | 14,519 | 93 | 7.5% |
| New Franklin, OH | 14,489 | 93 | 6.9% |
| California City, CA | 14,506 | 108 | 8.3% |
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