What is the cost of living in Capitola, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Capitola has an overall cost of living index of 185, which is 1.9x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Capitola has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Capitola ranks as #483 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Capitola ranks as the #151 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Capitola, check out:
Capitola Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Capitola. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Capitola is 113.
The Groceries index in Capitola is 116.
The Health index in Capitola is 335.
The Housing index in Capitola is 115.
The Transportation index in Capitola is 120.
The Utilities index in Capitola is 121.
| Living Expense | Capitola | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 185 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 113 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 335 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 121 | 121 | 100 |
Capitola 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 Capitola Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Capitola, 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 Capitola is $1,233,201.
The Median Rent in Capitola is $2,512.
The Median Income in Capitola is $102,976.
The Home Value To Income in Capitola is 12.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Capitola is 0.29x.
| Statistic | Capitola | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,233,201 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,512 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $102,976 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 12.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.29x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Capitola, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Capitola Services costs vs. California
| Item | Capitola | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.66 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.31 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $33.3 | $18 |
| Haircut | $33.94 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $48.51 | $45.56 |
Detailed Capitola Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Capitola | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.79 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.13 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.05 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.77 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.92 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.99 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Capitola Health costs vs. California
| Item | Capitola | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $158.95 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $194.05 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $147.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Capitola Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Capitola | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.81 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $65.62 | $59.92 |
Detailed Capitola Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Capitola | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.74 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.07 | $192.25 |
Capitola SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Capitola
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Capitola. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Santa Cruz, CA has a cost of living index of 206, 1.1x Capitola.
Watsonville, CA has a cost of living index of 151, 0.8x Capitola.
Los Gatos, CA has a cost of living index of 306, 1.7x Capitola.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Capitola |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz, CA | 61,607 | 206 | 1.1x |
| Watsonville, CA | 51,712 | 151 | 0.8x |
| Los Gatos, CA | 32,786 | 306 | 1.7x |
| Live Oak, CA | 16,911 | 118 | 0.6x |
| Scotts Valley, CA | 12,044 | 196 | 1.1x |
| Soquel, CA | 10,679 | 185 | 1.0x |
| Rio del Mar, CA | 9,201 | 214 | 1.2x |
| Interlaken, CA | 8,068 | 160 | 0.9x |
| Ben Lomond, CA | 6,858 | 190 | 1.0x |
| Castroville, CA | 6,720 | 159 | 0.9x |
