California Cost of Living
Housing costs and affordability data for 58 counties.
Average Monthly Rent
$1,618/mo
Average Home Value
$569,022
Average Owner Cost
$1,822/mo
County cost atlas
California housing costs by county
Compare rent, entry-price context, owner costs, and cost score in one state view. Pin a county, switch layers, then open the full county profile when a place needs closer review.
Counties
58
Avg rent
$1,618/mo
Owner cost
$1,822/mo
Avg score
10.2
Higher means lower cost pressure
Atlas layers use U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. Rent, owner cost, and home value are county medians. Cost score rewards lower rent and lower owner costs, but affordability still depends on income, household size, commute, debt, and personal finances. Use this as decision context, not personalized financial advice.
State Cost Summary
Use these state averages as a starting point, then scan the atlas and rankings for the county-level spread behind them.
Housing Costs in California: An Overview
The median rent in California is $1,618 per month, which is 39% above the national median of $1,163. That is useful statewide context, but rent burden still depends on local income, household size, commute, and the county a household chooses.
Within California, housing costs vary significantly by county. San Mateo County has the highest median rent in this dataset at $2,893 per month and a median home value of $1,494,500. Modoc County has the lowest reported median rent at $818 per month and a median home value of $212,000.
The average home value across California counties is $569,022, 102% higher than the national median of $281,900. Median household income is roughly $87,001, so home values should be read alongside local wages, financing costs, taxes, insurance, and supply.
Before comparing places in California, start with the county-level pattern. Costs can swing dramatically between rural and urban counties. Use the atlas, rankings, and county links below to compare rent, home values, owner costs, and rent burden before opening a specific county profile.
Distribution
Rent Distribution in California
How median rents are spread across 57 counties
Highest Median Rent Counties
Lowest Median Rent Counties
All California Counties
Sorted by median rent, highest first. A higher cost score means lower rent and owner cost pressure within the national scoring model.
| County | Median Rent | Home Value | Owner Cost | Cost Score | Rent/Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo County | Expensive$2,893/mo | $1,494,500 | $3,278/mo | 0.1 | 29.0% |
| Santa Clara County | Expensive$2,814/mo | $1,382,800 | $3,233/mo | 0.1 | 27.0% |
| Marin County | Expensive$2,584/mo | $1,390,000 | $3,583/mo | 0.1 | 32.0% |
| San Francisco County | Expensive$2,419/mo | $1,380,500 | $3,200/mo | 0.2 | 24.0% |
| Orange County | Expensive$2,352/mo | $915,500 | $2,556/mo | 0.4 | 33.0% |
| Contra Costa County | Expensive$2,322/mo | $830,800 | $2,675/mo | 0.3 | 32.0% |
| Alameda County | Expensive$2,318/mo | $1,057,400 | $2,899/mo | 0.2 | 29.0% |
| Ventura County | Expensive$2,248/mo | $768,400 | $2,410/mo | 0.7 | 34.0% |
| Santa Cruz County | Expensive$2,172/mo | $1,015,200 | $2,413/mo | 0.8 | 30.0% |
| San Diego County | Expensive$2,154/mo | $791,600 | $2,484/mo | 0.8 | 33.0% |
| Napa County | Expensive$2,141/mo | $838,800 | $2,258/mo | 1.0 | 31.0% |
| Sonoma County | Expensive$2,093/mo | $779,000 | $2,304/mo | 1.1 | 32.0% |
| Solano County | Expensive$2,088/mo | $589,600 | $2,202/mo | 1.3 | 33.0% |
| Santa Barbara County | Expensive$2,050/mo | $735,700 | $2,094/mo | 1.6 | 33.0% |
| Monterey County | Expensive$1,995/mo | $723,100 | $2,087/mo | 1.8 | 32.0% |
| Placer County | Expensive$1,991/mo | $658,800 | $2,326/mo | 1.3 | 33.0% |
| San Benito County | Expensive$1,922/mo | $751,500 | $2,738/mo | 0.9 | 29.0% |
| San Luis Obispo County | Expensive$1,899/mo | $777,200 | $2,048/mo | 2.0 | 33.0% |
| Los Angeles County | Expensive$1,893/mo | $783,300 | $2,390/mo | 1.4 | 33.0% |
| Riverside County | Expensive$1,814/mo | $510,300 | $1,972/mo | 2.7 | 34.0% |
| Yolo County | Expensive$1,757/mo | $593,800 | $1,966/mo | 3.0 | 33.0% |
| San Bernardino County | Expensive$1,706/mo | $475,000 | $1,791/mo | 3.9 | 34.0% |
| Sacramento County | Expensive$1,702/mo | $498,900 | $1,869/mo | 3.7 | 32.0% |
| Nevada County | Expensive$1,635/mo | $602,800 | $2,001/mo | 3.5 | 35.0% |
| San Joaquin County | Expensive$1,633/mo | $494,500 | $1,891/mo | 4.1 | 31.0% |
| El Dorado County | Expensive$1,626/mo | $640,500 | $2,190/mo | 3.2 | 33.0% |
| Calaveras County | Expensive$1,615/mo | $441,800 | $1,590/mo | 6.0 | 33.0% |
| Mono County | Expensive$1,593/mo | $514,300 | $2,141/mo | 3.5 | 26.0% |
| Stanislaus County | Expensive$1,528/mo | $426,600 | $1,625/mo | 6.3 | 31.0% |
| Amador County | Moderate$1,380/mo | $422,800 | $1,515/mo | 8.9 | 29.0% |
| Butte County | Moderate$1,369/mo | $408,700 | $1,401/mo | 10.4 | 35.0% |
| Sutter County | Moderate$1,364/mo | $399,400 | $1,463/mo | 9.7 | 31.0% |
| Mendocino County | Moderate$1,325/mo | $486,000 | $1,304/mo | 12.6 | 32.0% |
| Madera County | Moderate$1,307/mo | $367,700 | $1,530/mo | 9.8 | 32.0% |
| Fresno County | Moderate$1,300/mo | $362,600 | $1,548/mo | 9.8 | 32.0% |
| Lake County | Moderate$1,292/mo | $316,800 | $1,183/mo | 15.6 | 33.0% |
| Merced County | Moderate$1,284/mo | $368,400 | $1,392/mo | 11.9 | 30.0% |
| Mariposa County | Moderate$1,268/mo | $358,000 | $1,326/mo | 13.1 | 29.0% |
| Shasta County | Moderate$1,267/mo | $347,200 | $1,399/mo | 12.1 | 30.0% |
| Humboldt County | Moderate$1,249/mo | $418,800 | $1,277/mo | 14.1 | 36.0% |
| Tuolumne County | Moderate$1,247/mo | $406,200 | $1,628/mo | 9.9 | 34.0% |
| Kings County | Moderate$1,228/mo | $305,700 | $1,460/mo | 11.9 | 29.0% |
| Kern County | Moderate$1,220/mo | $310,600 | $1,453/mo | 12.2 | 33.0% |
| Yuba County | Moderate$1,209/mo | $380,000 | $1,651/mo | 10.3 | 31.0% |
| Tulare County | Moderate$1,206/mo | $303,000 | $1,383/mo | 13.4 | 29.0% |
| Del Norte County | Moderate$1,182/mo | $319,600 | $889/mo | 28.9 | 30.0% |
| Sierra County | Moderate$1,181/mo | $334,100 | $1,373/mo | 14.1 | 28.0% |
| Tehama County | Moderate$1,159/mo | $315,600 | $1,218/mo | 17.5 | 31.0% |
| Inyo County | Moderate$1,140/mo | $338,400 | $1,013/mo | 24.2 | 22.0% |
| Colusa County | Moderate$1,139/mo | $375,100 | $1,276/mo | 16.7 | 27.0% |
| Glenn County | Moderate$1,103/mo | $338,400 | $1,288/mo | 17.4 | 27.0% |
| Lassen County | Moderate$1,043/mo | $259,500 | $1,138/mo | 23.1 | 26.0% |
| Siskiyou County | Moderate$1,043/mo | $284,500 | $866/mo | 35.0 | 34.0% |
| Plumas County | Moderate$1,034/mo | $327,400 | $1,172/mo | 22.4 | 24.0% |
| Imperial County | Moderate$1,012/mo | $279,500 | $1,224/mo | 22.1 | 31.0% |
| Trinity County | Affordable$922/mo | $329,000 | $683/mo | 55.1 | 23.0% |
| Modoc County | Affordable$818/mo | $212,000 | $659/mo | 67.0 | 33.0% |
| Alpine County | N/A | $466,100 | $1,753/mo | 5.2 | 20.0% |
Compare California to Other States
See how California counties stack up against counties in other states. Compare rent, home values, and affordability side by side.
Start a ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions About California Housing Costs
What is the most affordable county in California?
What is the most expensive county to live in California?
How does California's cost of living compare to the national average?
What is the average home value in California?
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Compare Moving QuotesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.