What is the cost of living in Atwater, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Atwater has an overall cost of living index of 119, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Atwater has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Atwater ranks as #89 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Atwater ranks as the #545 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Atwater, check out:
Atwater Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Atwater. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Atwater is 107.
The Groceries index in Atwater is 116.
The Health index in Atwater is 128.
The Housing index in Atwater is 117.
The Transportation index in Atwater is 120.
The Utilities index in Atwater is 117.
| Living Expense | Atwater | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 119 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 128 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 117 | 121 | 100 |
Atwater 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 Atwater Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Atwater, 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 Atwater is $422,470.
The Median Rent in Atwater is $1,279.
The Median Income in Atwater is $64,472.
The Home Value To Income in Atwater is 6.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Atwater is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Atwater | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $422,470 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,279 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $64,472 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.6x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Atwater, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Atwater Services costs vs. California
| Item | Atwater | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.56 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.64 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $23.78 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.83 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $76.57 | $45.56 |
Detailed Atwater Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Atwater | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.21 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.1 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.99 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.96 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.86 | $3.7 |
Detailed Atwater Health costs vs. California
| Item | Atwater | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $157.88 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $166.71 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $148.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Atwater Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Atwater | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.51 | $59.92 |
Detailed Atwater Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Atwater | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $299.78 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $191.56 | $192.25 |
Atwater SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Atwater
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Atwater. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Merced, CA has a cost of living index of 121, 1.0x Atwater.
Turlock, CA has a cost of living index of 131, 1.1x Atwater.
Livingston, CA has a cost of living index of 119, 1.0x Atwater.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Atwater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CA | 91,953 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Turlock, CA | 72,502 | 131 | 1.1x |
| Livingston, CA | 14,606 | 119 | 1.0x |
| Winton, CA | 11,797 | 108 | 0.9x |
| Delhi, CA | 11,009 | 122 | 1.0x |
