What is the cost of living in Carpinteria, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Carpinteria has an overall cost of living index of 184, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Carpinteria has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Carpinteria ranks as #479 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Carpinteria ranks as the #155 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Carpinteria, check out:
Carpinteria Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Carpinteria. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Carpinteria is 109.
The Groceries index in Carpinteria is 115.
The Health index in Carpinteria is 333.
The Housing index in Carpinteria is 121.
The Transportation index in Carpinteria is 124.
The Utilities index in Carpinteria is 130.
| Living Expense | Carpinteria | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 184 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 333 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 124 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 130 | 121 | 100 |
Carpinteria 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 Carpinteria Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Carpinteria, 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 Carpinteria is $1,506,925.
The Median Rent in Carpinteria is $2,377.
The Median Income in Carpinteria is $100,658.
The Home Value To Income in Carpinteria is 15.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Carpinteria is 0.28x.
| Statistic | Carpinteria | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,506,925 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,377 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $100,658 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 15.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.28x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Carpinteria, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Carpinteria Services costs vs. California
| Item | Carpinteria | 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 Carpinteria Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Carpinteria | 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 Carpinteria Health costs vs. California
| Item | Carpinteria | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $142.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $131.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Carpinteria Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Carpinteria | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Carpinteria Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Carpinteria | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $231.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $193.81 | $192.25 |
Carpinteria SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Carpinteria
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Carpinteria. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Simi Valley, CA has a cost of living index of 177, 1.0x Carpinteria.
Thousand Oaks, CA has a cost of living index of 190, 1.0x Carpinteria.
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA has a cost of living index of 168, 0.9x Carpinteria.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Carpinteria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simi Valley, CA | 125,634 | 177 | 1.0x |
| Thousand Oaks, CA | 125,205 | 190 | 1.0x |
| San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA | 109,857 | 168 | 0.9x |
| Santa Barbara, CA | 87,779 | 223 | 1.2x |
| Camarillo, CA | 70,186 | 172 | 0.9x |
| Moorpark, CA | 35,854 | 177 | 1.0x |
| Goleta, CA | 32,685 | 193 | 1.0x |
| Agoura Hills, CA | 19,721 | 203 | 1.1x |
| Castaic, CA | 17,999 | 166 | 0.9x |
| Oak Park, CA | 13,757 | 200 | 1.1x |
