2025 affordability guide — compare housing costs, rental prices, and living expenses across 1539 cities in California.
Average median home value across California cities.
Rental data covers median monthly rent for tracked cities in California.
COL index 129.5 vs. national average of 100. Expect higher living costs than the national average.
Quick look at the cost extremes across California.
Sorted from most expensive to most affordable. Click any city for a detailed breakdown with housing, rental, and income data.
| # | City | COL Index | Affordability | Median Home | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alamo CDP | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 2 | Alto CDP | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 3 | Atherton | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 4 | Baywood Park CDP | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 5 | Bell Canyon CDP | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 6 | Belmont | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 7 | Beverly Hills | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 8 | Burlingame | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 9 | Cambrian Park CDP | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 10 | Camino Tassajara CDP | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 11 | Carmel-by-the-Sea | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 12 | Castle Hill CDP | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 13 | Cupertino | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 14 | Del Mar | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 15 | Diablo CDP | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 16 | Emerald Lake Hills CDP | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 17 | Fairbanks Ranch CDP | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 18 | Hermosa Beach | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 19 | Hidden Hills | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 20 | Highlands CDP | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
Complete directory of every tracked city and town. Filter or scroll to find yours.
States like Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Kansas typically have lower costs of living compared to coastal states.
RPP (Regional Price Parity) measures the price level for all items. COL Index combines RPP, housing, and rental data for a comprehensive comparison.
Data: BEA Regional Price Parities, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, HUD Fair Market Rents. Our Methodology · Data Sources