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 202, which is 2.0x 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 142.
The standard of living in Carlsbad ranks as #527 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Carlsbad ranks as the #107 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Carlsbad, check out:
Carlsbad Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Carlsbad. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Carlsbad is 115.
The Groceries index in Carlsbad is 114.
The Health index in Carlsbad is 396.
The Housing index in Carlsbad is 124.
The Transportation index in Carlsbad is 122.
The Utilities index in Carlsbad is 124.
| Living Expense | Carlsbad | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 202 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 115 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 396 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 124 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 122 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 124 | 121 | 100 |
Carlsbad 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 Carlsbad Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Carlsbad is $1,370,648.
The Median Rent in Carlsbad is $2,808.
The Median Income in Carlsbad is $142,748.
The Home Value To Income in Carlsbad is 9.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Carlsbad is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Carlsbad | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,370,648 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,808 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $142,748 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.6x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
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
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 162, 0.8x Carlsbad.
Escondido, CA has a cost of living index of 152, 0.8x Carlsbad.
Vista, CA has a cost of living index of 159, 0.8x Carlsbad.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Carlsbad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oceanside, CA | 172,242 | 162 | 0.8x |
| Escondido, CA | 149,668 | 152 | 0.8x |
| Vista, CA | 99,114 | 159 | 0.8x |
| San Marcos, CA | 94,882 | 168 | 0.8x |
| Encinitas, CA | 61,480 | 213 | 1.1x |
| Poway, CA | 48,713 | 179 | 0.9x |
| Fallbrook, CA | 32,112 | 157 | 0.8x |
| Camp Pendleton South, CA | 15,766 | 157 | 0.8x |
| Solana Beach, CA | 12,823 | 257 | 1.3x |
| Valley Center, CA | 11,119 | 167 | 0.8x |
