What is the cost of living in Carmichael, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Carmichael has an overall cost of living index of 139, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Carmichael has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Carmichael ranks as #224 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Carmichael ranks as the #410 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Carmichael, check out:
Carmichael Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Carmichael. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Carmichael is 109.
The Groceries index in Carmichael is 111.
The Health index in Carmichael is 196.
The Housing index in Carmichael is 118.
The Transportation index in Carmichael is 116.
The Utilities index in Carmichael is 120.
| Living Expense | Carmichael | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 139 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 196 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 120 | 121 | 100 |
Carmichael 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 Carmichael Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Carmichael, 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 Carmichael is $561,286.
The Median Rent in Carmichael is $1,702.
The Median Income in Carmichael is $85,914.
The Home Value To Income in Carmichael is 6.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Carmichael is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Carmichael | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $561,286 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,702 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $85,914 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.5x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Carmichael, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Carmichael Services costs vs. California
| Item | Carmichael | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.44 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.76 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.22 | $18 |
| Haircut | $40.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $60.53 | $45.56 |
Detailed Carmichael Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Carmichael | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.56 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.06 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.93 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.69 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.98 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.49 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.67 | $3.7 |
Detailed Carmichael Health costs vs. California
| Item | Carmichael | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $153.5 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $201.43 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.72 | $113.29 |
Detailed Carmichael Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Carmichael | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.51 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Carmichael Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Carmichael | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $238.53 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.81 | $192.25 |
Carmichael SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Carmichael
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Carmichael. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Arden-Arcade, CA has a cost of living index of 135, 1.0x Carmichael.
Citrus Heights, CA has a cost of living index of 133, 1.0x Carmichael.
Folsom, CA has a cost of living index of 163, 1.2x Carmichael.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Carmichael |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arden-Arcade, CA | 94,994 | 135 | 1.0x |
| Citrus Heights, CA | 86,995 | 133 | 1.0x |
| Folsom, CA | 83,916 | 163 | 1.2x |
| Rancho Cordova, CA | 81,849 | 131 | 0.9x |
| Rocklin, CA | 73,327 | 157 | 1.1x |
| El Dorado Hills, CA | 51,026 | 172 | 1.2x |
| Antelope, CA | 48,301 | 138 | 1.0x |
| North Highlands, CA | 47,957 | 117 | 0.8x |
| Vineyard, CA | 43,751 | 139 | 1.0x |
| Foothill Farms, CA | 36,435 | 125 | 0.9x |
