What is the cost of living in Atascadero, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Atascadero has an overall cost of living index of 156, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Atascadero has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Atascadero ranks as #340 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Atascadero ranks as the #294 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Atascadero, check out:
Atascadero Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Atascadero. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Atascadero is 110.
The Groceries index in Atascadero is 115.
The Health index in Atascadero is 251.
The Housing index in Atascadero is 116.
The Transportation index in Atascadero is 118.
The Utilities index in Atascadero is 114.
| Living Expense | Atascadero | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 156 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 251 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 114 | 121 | 100 |
Atascadero 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 Atascadero Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Atascadero, 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 Atascadero is $784,480.
The Median Rent in Atascadero is $1,854.
The Median Income in Atascadero is $91,429.
The Home Value To Income in Atascadero is 8.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Atascadero is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Atascadero | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $784,480 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,854 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $91,429 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.6x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Atascadero, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Atascadero Services costs vs. California
| Item | Atascadero | 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 Atascadero Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Atascadero | 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 Atascadero Health costs vs. California
| Item | Atascadero | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $142.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $131.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Atascadero Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Atascadero | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Atascadero Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Atascadero | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $231.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $193.81 | $192.25 |
Atascadero SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Atascadero
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Atascadero. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
San Luis Obispo, CA has a cost of living index of 175, 1.1x Atascadero.
Orcutt, CA has a cost of living index of 148, 0.9x Atascadero.
El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA has a cost of living index of 151, 1.0x Atascadero.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Atascadero |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo, CA | 48,491 | 175 | 1.1x |
| Orcutt, CA | 31,454 | 148 | 0.9x |
| El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA | 31,446 | 151 | 1.0x |
| Arroyo Grande, CA | 18,372 | 168 | 1.1x |
| Nipomo, CA | 17,516 | 166 | 1.1x |
| Los Osos, CA | 14,166 | 163 | 1.0x |
| Grover Beach, CA | 12,604 | 157 | 1.0x |
| Morro Bay, CA | 10,692 | 169 | 1.1x |
| Templeton, CA | 9,580 | 165 | 1.1x |
| Guadalupe, CA | 8,566 | 132 | 0.8x |
