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 132, 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 142.
The standard of living in Arcata ranks as #173 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Arcata ranks as the #461 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Arcata, check out:
Arcata Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Arcata. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Arcata is 108.
The Groceries index in Arcata is 116.
The Health index in Arcata is 171.
The Housing index in Arcata is 116.
The Transportation index in Arcata is 122.
The Utilities index in Arcata is 124.
| Living Expense | Arcata | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 132 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 171 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 122 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 124 | 121 | 100 |
Arcata Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Arcata Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Arcata is $486,084.
The Median Rent in Arcata is $1,327.
The Median Income in Arcata is $46,713.
The Home Value To Income in Arcata is 10.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Arcata is 0.34x.
| Statistic | Arcata | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $486,084 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,327 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $46,713 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.34x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
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
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, 0.9x Arcata.
Trinity, FL has a cost of living index of 129, 1.0x Arcata.
McKinleyville, CA has a cost of living index of 129, 1.0x Arcata.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Arcata |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka, CA | 26,010 | 122 | 0.9x |
| Trinity, FL | 18,907 | 129 | 1.0x |
| McKinleyville, CA | 17,113 | 129 | 1.0x |
| Fortuna, CA | 12,326 | 126 | 1.0x |
