What is the cost of living in Cambria, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Cambria has an overall cost of living index of 174, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Cambria has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Cambria ranks as #445 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Cambria ranks as the #189 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Cambria, check out:
Cambria Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Cambria. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Cambria is 108.
The Groceries index in Cambria is 116.
The Health index in Cambria is 307.
The Housing index in Cambria is 117.
The Transportation index in Cambria is 119.
The Utilities index in Cambria is 115.
| Living Expense | Cambria | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 174 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 307 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 119 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 121 | 100 |
Cambria 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 Cambria Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Cambria, 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 Cambria is $1,009,781.
The Median Rent in Cambria is $1,924.
The Median Income in Cambria is $99,147.
The Home Value To Income in Cambria is 10.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Cambria is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Cambria | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,009,781 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,924 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $99,147 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.2x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Cambria, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Cambria Services costs vs. California
| Item | Cambria | 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 Cambria Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Cambria | 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 Cambria Health costs vs. California
| Item | Cambria | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $142.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $131.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Cambria Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Cambria | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Cambria Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Cambria | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $231.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $193.81 | $192.25 |
Cambria SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Cambria
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Cambria. 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, 1.0x Cambria.
El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA has a cost of living index of 151, 0.9x Cambria.
Atascadero, CA has a cost of living index of 156, 0.9x Cambria.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Cambria |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo, CA | 48,491 | 175 | 1.0x |
| El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA | 31,446 | 151 | 0.9x |
| Atascadero, CA | 29,712 | 156 | 0.9x |
| Arroyo Grande, CA | 18,372 | 168 | 1.0x |
| Nipomo, CA | 17,516 | 166 | 1.0x |
| Los Osos, CA | 14,166 | 163 | 0.9x |
| Grover Beach, CA | 12,604 | 157 | 0.9x |
| Morro Bay, CA | 10,692 | 169 | 1.0x |
| Templeton, CA | 9,580 | 165 | 0.9x |
| Guadalupe, CA | 8,566 | 132 | 0.8x |
