What is the cost of living in El Centro, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, El Centro has an overall cost of living index of 111, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, El Centro has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in El Centro ranks as #31 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies El Centro ranks as the #603 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in El Centro, check out:
El Centro Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in El Centro. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in El Centro is 110.
The Groceries index in El Centro is 115.
The Health index in El Centro is 108.
The Housing index in El Centro is 111.
The Transportation index in El Centro is 113.
The Utilities index in El Centro is 117.
| Living Expense | El Centro | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 111 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 108 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 111 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 117 | 121 | 100 |
El Centro 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 El Centro Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
El Centro, 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 El Centro is $387,050.
The Median Rent in El Centro is $1,052.
The Median Income in El Centro is $53,082.
The Home Value To Income in El Centro is 7.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in El Centro is 0.24x.
| Statistic | El Centro | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $387,050 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,052 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $53,082 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.3x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
El Centro, CA Costs By Category
Detailed El Centro Services costs vs. California
| Item | El Centro | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.5 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.89 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.92 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.77 | $45.56 |
Detailed El Centro Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | El Centro | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.05 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.98 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.25 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed El Centro Health costs vs. California
| Item | El Centro | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $138.66 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $132.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $121.37 | $113.29 |
Detailed El Centro Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | El Centro | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.68 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.4 | $59.92 |
Detailed El Centro Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | El Centro | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.42 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
El Centro SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around El Centro
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around El Centro. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Calexico, CA has a cost of living index of 113, 1.0x El Centro.
Brawley, CA has a cost of living index of 113, 1.0x El Centro.
Imperial, CA has a cost of living index of 119, 1.1x El Centro.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. El Centro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calexico, CA | 38,585 | 113 | 1.0x |
| Brawley, CA | 27,283 | 113 | 1.0x |
| Imperial, CA | 21,430 | 119 | 1.1x |
| Heber, CA | 7,312 | 112 | 1.0x |
| Calipatria, CA | 6,548 | 101 | 0.9x |
| Holtville, CA | 5,617 | 109 | 1.0x |
