D-
15%
Overall NAT. AVG.
18%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
8%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Yucca Valley California National
Cost of living115143100
Goods & Services118115100
Groceries109108100
Health care93103100
Housing108197100
Transportation138136100
Utilities122144100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Yucca Valley, CA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Yucca Valley? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Yucca Valley stands at 115, making it 15% 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.

The things you purchase regularly, like clothes, haircuts, movie tickets and gym memberships, can make a big dent in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. Unfortunately in Yucca Valley, these items will cost you 17.6% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Yucca Valley?

Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 13 residents in Yucca Valley to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 23% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 77% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.

Is Yucca Valley Affordable?

Is Yucca Valley affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Yucca Valley, for instance, where the median home price falls 9.1% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 4.2% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Yucca Valley flaunting a median household income of $72,082, 11.4% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Yucca Valley?

Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.

Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In Yucca Valley, the transportation index is 38.1% higher than the national average.

Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Yucca Valley, the housing index stands at 7.6% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Yucca Valley, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Yucca Valley is 20% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Yucca Valley is 15% higher than the national average
  • Yucca Valley housing is 8% higher than the national average
  • California general sales tax is 42% higher than the national average
  • California state income tax is 61% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Yucca Valley

See all the best places to live around Yucca Valley

Compare Yucca Valley, CA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$84,650$7,054$1,975$2,540
      Renters$57,380$4,782$1,339$1,722
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Yucca Valley is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Yucca Valley has a median income of about $84,650 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,975 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $57,380. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,339 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      California Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      California 7.25% 10.5%

      California Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      California 1% 13.3%

      Goods & Services

      Item Yucca Valley National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.92$27.622.5%
      Beauty Salon $92.22$51.1180.5%
      Toothpaste $3.93$4.094.0%
      Shampoo $1.58$1.542.5%
      Movie $17.39$12.8835.0%
      Yoga $31.33$19.6659.4%

      Groceries

      Item Yucca Valley National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.34$7.704.7%
      Fried Chicken $3.37$1.66102.7%
      Milk $5.06$4.736.9%
      Potatoes $4.85$5.267.7%
      Pizza $16.13$12.7626.4%
      Beer $11.24$10.556.5%

      Health Care

      Item Yucca Valley National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $160.00$140.0614.2%
      Doctor $131.67$153.8214.4%
      Dentist $125.75$123.152.1%
      Ibuprofen $12.24$11.734.3%
      Lipitor $17.53$23.6125.8%

      Housing

      Item Yucca Valley National avg. Difference
      Home Price $356,359.00$326,622.009.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $7,772.24$2,480.25213.4%
      Apartment Rent $1,504.00$1,444.004.2%

      Transportation

      Item Yucca Valley National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.48$3.0646.6%
      Tire Balancing $76.80$65.2117.8%

      Utilities

      Item Yucca Valley National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $306.96$220.1239.5%
      Phone $182.71$195.716.6%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Homestead Valley, CA2,7201109.6%
      Joshua Tree, CA7,98011010.1%
      Morongo Valley, CA3,23911211.9%
      Whitewater, CA1,20211616.1%
      Desert Hot Springs, CA30,37411818.0%
      Yucca Valley, CA22,25911514.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Gallup, NM22,253928.4%
      South Euclid, OH22,242918.9%
      Mont-Royal, QC22,238n/a 
      Perrysburg, OH22,2881087.9%
      Ballenger Creek, MD22,22912424.2%
      Yucca Valley, CA22,25911514.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.