What is the cost of living in Arroyo Grande, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Arroyo Grande has an overall cost of living index of 168, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Arroyo Grande has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Arroyo Grande ranks as #412 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Arroyo Grande ranks as the #222 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Arroyo Grande, check out:
Arroyo Grande Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Arroyo Grande. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Arroyo Grande is 107.
The Groceries index in Arroyo Grande is 113.
The Health index in Arroyo Grande is 284.
The Housing index in Arroyo Grande is 116.
The Transportation index in Arroyo Grande is 114.
The Utilities index in Arroyo Grande is 125.
| Living Expense | Arroyo Grande | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 168 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 284 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 114 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 125 | 121 | 100 |
Arroyo Grande 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 Arroyo Grande Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Arroyo Grande, 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 Arroyo Grande is $1,044,035.
The Median Rent in Arroyo Grande is $2,173.
The Median Income in Arroyo Grande is $102,553.
The Home Value To Income in Arroyo Grande is 10.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Arroyo Grande is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Arroyo Grande | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,044,035 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,173 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $102,553 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.2x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Arroyo Grande, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Arroyo Grande Services costs vs. California
| Item | Arroyo Grande | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.48 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $18.12 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $89.33 | $45.56 |
Detailed Arroyo Grande Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Arroyo Grande | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.77 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.63 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.91 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.9 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.13 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed Arroyo Grande Health costs vs. California
| Item | Arroyo Grande | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $142.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $131.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Arroyo Grande Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Arroyo Grande | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Arroyo Grande Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Arroyo Grande | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $231.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $193.81 | $192.25 |
Arroyo Grande SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Arroyo Grande
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Arroyo Grande. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Santa Maria, CA has a cost of living index of 138, 0.8x Arroyo Grande.
San Luis Obispo, CA has a cost of living index of 175, 1.0x Arroyo Grande.
Orcutt, CA has a cost of living index of 148, 0.9x Arroyo Grande.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Arroyo Grande |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria, CA | 110,462 | 138 | 0.8x |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | 48,491 | 175 | 1.0x |
| Orcutt, CA | 31,454 | 148 | 0.9x |
| Nipomo, CA | 17,516 | 166 | 1.0x |
| Los Osos, CA | 14,166 | 163 | 1.0x |
| Grover Beach, CA | 12,604 | 157 | 0.9x |
| Guadalupe, CA | 8,566 | 132 | 0.8x |
| Pismo Beach, CA | 8,014 | 184 | 1.1x |
| Oceano, CA | 7,128 | 136 | 0.8x |
