Carlsbad, CA Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Carlsbad, CA Summary
Cost of living in Carlsbad research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Carlsbad is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in California, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Carlsbad is 195, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Carlsbad is 1.9x higher than the national average.
Carlsbad ranks as the #515 cheapest in California out of 634.
Carlsbad ranks as the #6,290 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Carlsbad is $1,237,927.
The median income in Carlsbad is $139,326.
Table Of Contents
Carlsbad's Overall Cost Of Living
Higher Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Carlsbad, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Carlsbad has an overall cost of living index of 195, which is 1.9x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Carlsbad has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than California's index of 141.
The standard of living in Carlsbad ranks as #515 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Carlsbad ranks as the #119 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Carlsbad, check out:
In California
In America
Carlsbad Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Carlsbad. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Carlsbad is 111.
The Groceries index in Carlsbad is 118.
The Health index in Carlsbad is 106.
The Housing index in Carlsbad is 391.
The Transportation index in Carlsbad is 125.
The Utilities index in Carlsbad is 105.
| Living Expense | Carlsbad | California | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 195 | 141 | 100 | |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 118 | 112 | 100 | |
| Health | 106 | 110 | 100 | |
| Housing | 391 | 195 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 125 | 125 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 105 | 128 | 100 | |
Carlsbad, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Carlsbad is $1,237,927.
The Median Rent in Carlsbad is $2,678.
The Median Income in Carlsbad is $139,326.
The Home Value To Income in Carlsbad is 8.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Carlsbad is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Carlsbad | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,237,927 | $763,287 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $2,678 | $1,956 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $139,326 | $96,334 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.9x | 7.9x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.24x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Carlsbad, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Carlsbad Services Costs Vs. California
| Item | Carlsbad | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.5 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.89 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.92 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.77 | $45.56 |
Detailed Carlsbad Groceries Costs Vs. California
| Item | Carlsbad | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.05 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.98 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.25 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed Carlsbad Health Costs Vs. California
| Item | Carlsbad | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $138.66 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $132.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $121.37 | $113.29 |
Detailed Carlsbad Transportation Costs Vs. California
| Item | Carlsbad | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.68 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.4 | $59.92 |
Detailed Carlsbad Utilities Costs Vs. California
| Item | Carlsbad | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.42 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Carlsbad SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Carlsbad
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Carlsbad. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Oceanside, CA has a cost of living index of 156, 0.8x Carlsbad.
Escondido, CA has a cost of living index of 149, 0.8x Carlsbad.
Vista, CA has a cost of living index of 154, 0.8x Carlsbad.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Carlsbad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oceanside, CA | 172,542 | 156 | 0.8x |
| Escondido, CA | 149,913 | 149 | 0.8x |
| Vista, CA | 98,646 | 154 | 0.8x |
| San Marcos, CA | 94,078 | 162 | 0.8x |
| Encinitas, CA | 61,585 | 214 | 1.1x |
| Poway, CA | 48,515 | 176 | 0.9x |
| Fallbrook, CA | 32,467 | 155 | 0.8x |
| Camp Pendleton South, CA | 15,011 | 158 | 0.8x |
| Solana Beach, CA | 12,841 | 254 | 1.3x |
| Valley Center, CA | 10,303 | 166 | 0.9x |
