What is the cost of living in Carson, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Carson has an overall cost of living index of 156, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Carson has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Carson ranks as #340 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Carson ranks as the #294 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Carson, check out:
Carson Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Carson. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Carson is 112.
The Groceries index in Carson is 118.
The Health index in Carson is 239.
The Housing index in Carson is 121.
The Transportation index in Carson is 117.
The Utilities index in Carson is 125.
| Living Expense | Carson | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 156 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 118 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 239 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 125 | 121 | 100 |
Carson 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 Carson Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Carson, 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 Carson is $799,421.
The Median Rent in Carson is $1,956.
The Median Income in Carson is $108,703.
The Home Value To Income in Carson is 7.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Carson is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Carson | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $799,421 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,956 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $108,703 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Carson, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Carson Services costs vs. California
| Item | Carson | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.41 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.46 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.07 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $49.33 | $45.56 |
Detailed Carson Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Carson | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.26 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.08 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $16.13 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.6 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.76 | $3.7 |
Detailed Carson Health costs vs. California
| Item | Carson | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed Carson Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Carson | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Carson Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Carson | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
Carson SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Carson
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Carson. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Long Beach, CA has a cost of living index of 163, 1.0x Carson.
Torrance, CA has a cost of living index of 196, 1.3x Carson.
Compton, CA has a cost of living index of 139, 0.9x Carson.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Carson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Beach, CA | 455,548 | 163 | 1.0x |
| Torrance, CA | 142,130 | 196 | 1.3x |
| Compton, CA | 92,698 | 139 | 0.9x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 1.1x |
| Gardena, CA | 59,422 | 155 | 1.0x |
| Fountain Valley, CA | 56,258 | 188 | 1.2x |
| Cypress, CA | 49,498 | 178 | 1.1x |
| Cerritos, CA | 47,867 | 185 | 1.2x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 1.1x |
| West Rancho Dominguez, CA | 23,300 | 140 | 0.9x |
