What is the cost of living in Clearlake, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Clearlake has an overall cost of living index of 104, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Clearlake has a cost of living index that's 0.7x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Clearlake ranks as #5 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Clearlake ranks as the #629 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Clearlake, check out:
Clearlake Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Clearlake. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Clearlake is 111.
The Groceries index in Clearlake is 115.
The Health index in Clearlake is 76.
The Housing index in Clearlake is 117.
The Transportation index in Clearlake is 119.
The Utilities index in Clearlake is 123.
| Living Expense | Clearlake | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 104 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 76 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 119 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 123 | 121 | 100 |
Clearlake 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 Clearlake Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Clearlake, 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 Clearlake is $204,857.
The Median Rent in Clearlake is $1,240.
The Median Income in Clearlake is $41,867.
The Home Value To Income in Clearlake is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Clearlake is 0.36x.
| Statistic | Clearlake | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $204,857 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,240 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $41,867 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.9x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.36x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Clearlake, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Clearlake Services costs vs. California
| Item | Clearlake | 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 Clearlake Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Clearlake | 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 Clearlake Health costs vs. California
| Item | Clearlake | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $153.5 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $201.43 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.72 | $113.29 |
Detailed Clearlake Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Clearlake | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.51 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Clearlake Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Clearlake | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $238.53 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.81 | $192.25 |
Clearlake SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Clearlake
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Clearlake. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Napa, CA has a cost of living index of 171, 1.6x Clearlake.
Petaluma, CA has a cost of living index of 178, 1.7x Clearlake.
Windsor, CA has a cost of living index of 175, 1.7x Clearlake.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Clearlake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | 78,239 | 171 | 1.6x |
| Petaluma, CA | 59,247 | 178 | 1.7x |
| Windsor, CA | 26,081 | 175 | 1.7x |
| Ukiah, CA | 16,304 | 137 | 1.3x |
| Cloverdale, CA | 8,886 | 154 | 1.5x |
| Larkfield-Wikiup, CA | 8,765 | 171 | 1.6x |
| Winters, CA | 7,583 | 145 | 1.4x |
| Cotati, CA | 7,489 | 157 | 1.5x |
| Sebastopol, CA | 7,445 | 172 | 1.7x |
| Hidden Valley Lake, CA | 5,872 | 137 | 1.3x |
