What is the cost of living in Ashland, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Ashland has an overall cost of living index of 163, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Ashland has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Ashland ranks as #384 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Ashland ranks as the #250 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Ashland, check out:
Ashland Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Ashland. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Ashland is 111.
The Groceries index in Ashland is 116.
The Health index in Ashland is 271.
The Housing index in Ashland is 119.
The Transportation index in Ashland is 119.
The Utilities index in Ashland is 118.
| Living Expense | Ashland | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 163 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 271 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 119 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 119 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 118 | 121 | 100 |
Ashland 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 Ashland Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Ashland, 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 Ashland is $817,912.
The Median Rent in Ashland is $2,110.
The Median Income in Ashland is $81,702.
The Home Value To Income in Ashland is 10.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Ashland is 0.31x.
| Statistic | Ashland | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $817,912 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,110 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $81,702 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.31x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Ashland, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Ashland Services costs vs. California
| Item | Ashland | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.45 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.46 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $27.22 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $76.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Ashland Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Ashland | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.7 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.43 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.91 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.87 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.18 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.64 | $3.7 |
Detailed Ashland Health costs vs. California
| Item | Ashland | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $137.4 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $110.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Ashland Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Ashland | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.6 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.97 | $59.92 |
Detailed Ashland Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Ashland | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.51 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Ashland SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Ashland
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Ashland. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Oakland, CA has a cost of living index of 190, 1.2x Ashland.
Hayward, CA has a cost of living index of 174, 1.1x Ashland.
San Mateo, CA has a cost of living index of 250, 1.5x Ashland.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland, CA | 439,418 | 190 | 1.2x |
| Hayward, CA | 158,801 | 174 | 1.1x |
| San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | 250 | 1.5x |
| San Leandro, CA | 87,826 | 172 | 1.1x |
| San Ramon, CA | 85,993 | 221 | 1.4x |
| Alameda, CA | 77,238 | 207 | 1.3x |
| Pleasanton, CA | 76,960 | 232 | 1.4x |
| Castro Valley, CA | 65,001 | 195 | 1.2x |
| San Bruno, CA | 42,307 | 214 | 1.3x |
| San Carlos, CA | 29,614 | 311 | 1.9x |
