What is the cost of living in Barstow, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Barstow has an overall cost of living index of 105, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Barstow has a cost of living index that's 0.7x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Barstow ranks as #7 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Barstow ranks as the #627 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Barstow, check out:
Barstow Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Barstow. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Barstow is 114.
The Groceries index in Barstow is 117.
The Health index in Barstow is 77.
The Housing index in Barstow is 120.
The Transportation index in Barstow is 121.
The Utilities index in Barstow is 122.
| Living Expense | Barstow | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 105 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 114 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 77 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 120 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 121 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 122 | 121 | 100 |
Barstow 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 Barstow Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Barstow, 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 Barstow is $263,254.
The Median Rent in Barstow is $1,091.
The Median Income in Barstow is $53,380.
The Home Value To Income in Barstow is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Barstow is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Barstow | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $263,254 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,091 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $53,380 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.9x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Barstow, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Barstow Services costs vs. California
| Item | Barstow | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.34 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.04 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.11 | $18 |
| Haircut | $27.27 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $41.78 | $45.56 |
Detailed Barstow Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Barstow | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.89 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.49 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.92 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.92 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.31 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.26 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed Barstow Health costs vs. California
| Item | Barstow | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Barstow Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Barstow | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Barstow Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Barstow | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Barstow SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Barstow
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Barstow. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Victorville, CA has a cost of living index of 121, 1.2x Barstow.
Hesperia, CA has a cost of living index of 123, 1.2x Barstow.
Apple Valley, CA has a cost of living index of 123, 1.2x Barstow.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Barstow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victorville, CA | 137,627 | 121 | 1.2x |
| Hesperia, CA | 100,775 | 123 | 1.2x |
| Apple Valley, CA | 75,473 | 123 | 1.2x |
| Adelanto, CA | 37,964 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Phelan, CA | 18,496 | 122 | 1.2x |
| Lake Los Angeles, CA | 13,051 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Spring Valley Lake, CA | 9,483 | 130 | 1.2x |
| Oak Hills, CA | 9,013 | 136 | 1.3x |
| Fort Irwin, CA | 8,419 | 126 | 1.2x |
| Silver Lakes, CA | 6,977 | 122 | 1.2x |
