Where Do I Move?

State guide

Cost of living in California

37 California cities in the dataset, ranked cheapest first. We model an effective 4.0% state income tax at middle incomes. Combined state + average local sales tax runs about 8.8%.

Cities covered

37

Median rent

$2,360/mo

Median est. cost

$5,031/mo

State income tax

≈4.0%

Standouts in California

Cheapest

Fontana, CA

$4,084/mo

Lowest estimated monthly essentials for one person.

Best overall

Elk Grove, CA

Fit 70

Highest default Fit Score of the cities here.

Safest

San Diego, CA

Safety 100

Lowest violent and property crime per capita.

Best for jobs

Sunnyvale, CA

Jobs 75

Strongest labor market (BLS unemployment + growth).

Sunniest

Fontana, CA

327 sunny days

Most sunny days per year.

Every California city, cheapest first

1

69

pop 211.9K · rent $1,733 · est. $4,084/mo · comfortable on $76,000/yr

2

63

pop 408.4K · rent $1,483 · est. $4,129/mo · comfortable on $77,000/yr

3

60

pop 543.6K · rent $1,664 · est. $4,337/mo · comfortable on $82,000/yr

4

51

pop 218.6K · rent $1,758 · est. $4,341/mo · comfortable on $82,000/yr

5

50

pop 320.5K · rent $1,742 · est. $4,380/mo · comfortable on $83,000/yr

6

53

pop 170K · rent $1,696 · est. $4,446/mo · comfortable on $84,500/yr

7

57

pop 165.5K · rent $1,736 · est. $4,474/mo · comfortable on $85,000/yr

8

70

pop 177.2K · rent $2,180 · est. $4,515/mo · comfortable on $86,000/yr

9

65

pop 170.6K · rent $1,971 · est. $4,582/mo · comfortable on $87,500/yr

10

63

pop 158.8K · rent $2,136 · est. $4,694/mo · comfortable on $90,000/yr

11

58

pop 178.3K · rent $2,201 · est. $4,708/mo · comfortable on $90,500/yr

12

60

pop 172.5K · rent $2,207 · est. $4,712/mo · comfortable on $90,500/yr

13

45

pop 221.8K · rent $2,201 · est. $4,726/mo · comfortable on $91,000/yr

14

56

pop 210.4K · rent $2,036 · est. $4,736/mo · comfortable on $91,000/yr

15

55

pop 316.2K · rent $2,201 · est. $4,753/mo · comfortable on $91,500/yr

16

60

pop 524.8K · rent $2,255 · est. $4,799/mo · comfortable on $92,500/yr

17

65

pop 152.4K · rent $2,255 · est. $4,821/mo · comfortable on $93,000/yr

18

62

Rancho Cucamonga

pop 174.7K · rent $2,286 · est. $4,886/mo · comfortable on $94,500/yr

19

53

pop 159.2K · rent $2,360 · est. $5,031/mo · comfortable on $98,000/yr

20

64

Huntington Beach

pop 196K · rent $2,424 · est. $5,056/mo · comfortable on $98,500/yr

21

63

pop 229K · rent $2,486 · est. $5,083/mo · comfortable on $99,500/yr

22

54

pop 177.2K · rent $2,827 · est. $5,093/mo · comfortable on $99,500/yr

23

46

pop 162K · rent $2,684 · est. $5,138/mo · comfortable on $100,500/yr

24

48

pop 201K · rent $2,693 · est. $5,156/mo · comfortable on $101,000/yr

25

48

pop 458.5K · rent $2,903 · est. $5,312/mo · comfortable on $105,000/yr

26

51

pop 192.3K · rent $2,903 · est. $5,322/mo · comfortable on $105,000/yr

27

40

pop 438.1K · rent $2,912 · est. $5,324/mo · comfortable on $105,000/yr

28

49

pop 3.9M · rent $2,903 · est. $5,329/mo · comfortable on $105,000/yr

29

66

pop 1.4M · rent $3,001 · est. $5,376/mo · comfortable on $106,500/yr

30

58

pop 275K · rent $3,001 · est. $5,382/mo · comfortable on $106,500/yr

31

62

pop 228.5K · rent $2,912 · est. $5,423/mo · comfortable on $107,500/yr

32

58

pop 311.6K · rent $3,236 · est. $5,733/mo · comfortable on $114,500/yr

33

61

pop 308.2K · rent $3,236 · est. $5,736/mo · comfortable on $115,000/yr

34

52

pop 344.6K · rent $3,236 · est. $5,739/mo · comfortable on $115,000/yr

35

58

pop 836.3K · rent $3,604 · est. $5,865/mo · comfortable on $118,000/yr

36

60

pop 153.5K · rent $3,483 · est. $5,879/mo · comfortable on $118,000/yr

37

58

pop 990.1K · rent $3,483 · est. $5,905/mo · comfortable on $119,000/yr

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Score California cities for your income Part of our guide to the West →