What is the cost of living in Davis, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Davis has an overall cost of living index of 177, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Davis has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Davis ranks as #458 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Davis ranks as the #176 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Davis, check out:
Davis Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Davis. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Davis is 109.
The Groceries index in Davis is 118.
The Health index in Davis is 312.
The Housing index in Davis is 119.
The Transportation index in Davis is 117.
The Utilities index in Davis is 123.
| Living Expense | Davis | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 177 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 118 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 312 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 119 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 123 | 121 | 100 |
Davis 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 Davis Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Davis, 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 Davis is $854,622.
The Median Rent in Davis is $2,187.
The Median Income in Davis is $90,045.
The Home Value To Income in Davis is 9.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Davis is 0.29x.
| Statistic | Davis | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $854,622 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,187 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $90,045 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.5x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.29x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Davis, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Davis Services costs vs. California
| Item | Davis | 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 Davis Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Davis | 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 Davis Health costs vs. California
| Item | Davis | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $153.5 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $201.43 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.72 | $113.29 |
Detailed Davis Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Davis | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.51 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Davis Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Davis | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $238.53 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.81 | $192.25 |
Davis SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Davis
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Davis. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Sacramento, CA has a cost of living index of 137, 0.8x Davis.
Vacaville, CA has a cost of living index of 152, 0.9x Davis.
Arden-Arcade, CA has a cost of living index of 135, 0.8x Davis.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Davis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento, CA | 528,706 | 137 | 0.8x |
| Vacaville, CA | 102,596 | 152 | 0.9x |
| Arden-Arcade, CA | 94,994 | 135 | 0.8x |
| Woodland, CA | 61,854 | 140 | 0.8x |
| West Sacramento, CA | 54,927 | 135 | 0.8x |
| Florin, CA | 50,211 | 123 | 0.7x |
| Dixon, CA | 19,683 | 144 | 0.8x |
| Rio Linda, CA | 16,335 | 129 | 0.7x |
| Winters, CA | 7,583 | 145 | 0.8x |
