Arcata, CA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Arcata, CA Summary

Cost of living in Arcata research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Arcata is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in California, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Arcata is 126, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Arcata is 1.3x higher than the national average.

  • Arcata ranks as the #154 cheapest in California out of 634.

  • Arcata ranks as the #4,776 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Arcata is $491,340.

  • The median income in Arcata is $48,731.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
126
Arcata's Overall Cost Of Living
1.3x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Arcata, CA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Arcata has an overall cost of living index of 126, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to California, Arcata has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than California's index of 141.

The standard of living in Arcata ranks as #154 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Arcata ranks as the #480 most expensive place in the Golden State.

For more reading on life in Arcata, check out:

154 out of 634
In California
4,776 out of 6,489
In America

Arcata Cost Of Living Vs. California

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Arcata. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Arcata is 110.

  • The Groceries index in Arcata is 109.

  • The Health index in Arcata is 111.

  • The Housing index in Arcata is 167.

  • The Transportation index in Arcata is 120.

  • The Utilities index in Arcata is 112.

Living Expense Arcata California National Average
Overall 126 141 100
Services 110 110 100
Groceries 109 112 100
Health 111 110 100
Housing 167 195 100
Transportation 120 125 100
Utilities 112 128 100
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Arcata Cost of Living Vs. CA

Arcata, CA Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Arcata is $491,340.

  • The Median Rent in Arcata is $1,287.

  • The Median Income in Arcata is $48,731.

  • The Home Value To Income in Arcata is 10.1x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Arcata is 0.32x.

Statistic Arcata California United States
Median Home Value $491,340 $763,287 $303,400
Median Rent $1,287 $1,956 $1,348
Median Income $48,731 $96,334 $78,538
Home Value To Income 10.1x 7.9x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.32x 0.24x 0.21x
$491,340
Median Home Value
$1,287
Median Rent
$48,731
Median Income

Arcata, CA Costs By Category

Detailed Arcata Services Costs Vs. California

Item Arcata California
Shampoo $1.44 $1.28
Movie $13.76 $12.13
Bowling $22.22 $18
Haircut $40.0 $24.26
Beauty Salon $60.53 $45.56

Detailed Arcata Groceries Costs Vs. California

Item Arcata California
Ground Beef $5.56 $5.84
Fried Chicken $2.06 $1.57
Milk $4.93 $4.67
Potatoes $4.69 $4.93
Pizza $13.98 $12.09
Beer $10.49 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.67 $3.7

Detailed Arcata Health Costs Vs. California

Item Arcata California
Optometrist $153.5 $125.68
Doctor $201.43 $135.78
Dentist $115.72 $113.29

Detailed Arcata Transportation Costs Vs. California

Item Arcata California
Gasoline $4.51 $3.46
Tire Balancing $58.67 $59.92

Detailed Arcata Utilities Costs Vs. California

Item Arcata California
All Electricity $238.53 $193.99
Phone $190.81 $192.25

Arcata SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
3/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
2
Diversity
8.5
Safety
4
Amenities
8.5
Education
8.5
Commute
9

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Arcata

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Arcata. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Eureka, CA has a cost of living index of 122, 1.0x Arcata.

  • Trinity, FL has a cost of living index of 121, 1.0x Arcata.

  • McKinleyville, CA has a cost of living index of 124, 1.0x Arcata.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Arcata
Eureka, CA 26,302 122 1.0x
Trinity, FL 19,296 121 1.0x
McKinleyville, CA 17,152 124 1.0x
Fortuna, CA 12,413 117 0.9x

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