Cost of living in California
Prices in California are 10.7% above the US average (1st highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $2,665 in state income tax. State sales tax: 7.25%.
Price levels in California
| BEA RPP 2024 | California | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 110.7 | +10.7% |
| Goods | 106.1 | +6.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 154.3 | +54.3% |
| Utilities | 158.9 | +58.9% |
| Other services | 102.6 | +2.6% |
Metros in California
Metros whose principal city is in California. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 12,844,441 | 113.6 | $2,964 | $257 | −$211 |
| Riverside, CA | 4,769,007 | 106.4 | $2,103 | $405 | $552 |
| San Francisco, CA | 4,630,041 | 115.6 | $3,697 | $607 | −$839 |
| San Diego, CA | 3,282,248 | 111.9 | $2,823 | $379 | −$134 |
| Sacramento, CA | 2,477,274 | 106.7 | $2,201 | $347 | $432 |
| San Jose, CA | 1,984,473 | 110.4 | $3,272 | $527 | −$553 |
| Fresno, CA | 1,203,383 | 102.2 | $1,685 | $416 | $862 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 927,068 | 100.9 | $1,656 | $353 | $952 |
| Oxnard, CA | 830,851 | 110.5 | $2,424 | $425 | $190 |
| Stockton, CA | 823,815 | 105.1 | $2,015 | $387 | $597 |
| Modesto, CA | 557,719 | 104.1 | $1,803 | $316 | $847 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 486,444 | 107.8 | $2,819 | $243 | $70 |
| Visalia, CA | 485,146 | 99.8 | $1,450 | $240 | $1,117 |
| Vallejo, CA | 455,376 | 108.5 | $2,342 | $424 | $349 |
| Santa Maria, CA | 442,065 | 108.8 | $3,106 | $453 | −$486 |
| Salinas, CA | 433,729 | 109.0 | $2,416 | $403 | $216 |
| Merced, CA | 297,260 | 98.3 | $1,517 | $245 | $963 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | 282,367 | 108.6 | $2,720 | $361 | $146 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | 258,852 | 109.9 | $4,254 | $477 | −$1,165 |
| Chico, CA | 209,211 | 101.2 | $1,509 | $354 | $1,035 |
| Yuba City, CA | 187,478 | 104.2 | $1,600 | $307 | $858 |
| Redding, CA | 181,648 | 100.7 | $1,581 | $248 | $1,016 |
| El Centro, CA | 181,411 | 95.2 | $1,347 | $222 | $1,195 |
| Hanford, CA | 154,327 | 101.6 | $1,512 | $261 | $1,042 |
| Napa, CA | 132,949 | 112.6 | $3,375 | $377 | −$355 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Taxes in California (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| California income tax | $973 | $2,665 | $6,771 | $2,164 |
| California payroll taxes | $650 | $975 | $1,560 | $1,560 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,394 | $4,829 | $7,077 | $8,455 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, California’s income and payroll taxes cost $3,640 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across California
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $353 | $22,459 | $246 |
| Toddler (2) | $217 | $13,813 | $219 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $190 | $12,092 | $207 |
| School-age (5–12) | $110 | $7,018 | $199 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $222 a week in Imperial County to $607 in San Francisco County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 58 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kern County | $338,300 | $2,984 | 0.88% |
| Placer County | $688,100 | $5,812 | 0.84% |
| Contra Costa County | $866,800 | $7,156 | 0.83% |
| San Benito County | $793,400 | $6,441 | 0.81% |
| Riverside County | $557,300 | $4,348 | 0.78% |
| Orange County | $962,600 | $6,330 | 0.66% |
| Santa Barbara County | $790,700 | $5,103 | 0.65% |
| Santa Cruz County | $1,027,500 | $6,538 | 0.64% |
| Monterey County | $781,000 | $4,910 | 0.63% |
| San Mateo County | $1,559,600 | $9,519 | 0.61% |
Five highest and five lowest of 35 counties.
Not ranked because the Census median tax is top-coded at “$10,000 or more” (rate is a lower bound): Marin County (≥ 0.66%); Santa Clara County (≥ 0.67%).
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from California
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 406,873 in, 661,205 out (net −254,332).
Frequently asked questions
Is California expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put California’s overall price level at 110.7 in 2024 (US = 100), the 1st highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 154.3 and goods 106.1.
Does California have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $2,665 in California income tax under 2026 law (3.6% of pay), plus $975 in state payroll taxes.
What is the sales tax in California?+
The state rate is 7.25% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in California?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, El Centro, CA leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,195), and Santa Cruz, CA the least (−$1,165).