What is the cost of living in El Rio, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, El Rio has an overall cost of living index of 156, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, El Rio has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in El Rio ranks as #340 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies El Rio ranks as the #294 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in El Rio, check out:
El Rio Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in El Rio. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in El Rio is 111.
The Groceries index in El Rio is 115.
The Health index in El Rio is 242.
The Housing index in El Rio is 121.
The Transportation index in El Rio is 120.
The Utilities index in El Rio is 126.
| Living Expense | El Rio | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 156 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 242 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 126 | 121 | 100 |
El Rio 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 Rio Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
El Rio, 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 Rio is $672,948.
The Median Rent in El Rio is $2,089.
The Median Income in El Rio is $72,598.
The Home Value To Income in El Rio is 9.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in El Rio is 0.35x.
| Statistic | El Rio | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $672,948 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,089 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $72,598 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.3x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.35x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
El Rio, CA Costs By Category
Detailed El Rio Services costs vs. California
| Item | El Rio | 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 El Rio Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | El Rio | 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 El Rio Health costs vs. California
| Item | El Rio | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed El Rio Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | El Rio | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed El Rio Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | El Rio | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
El Rio SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around El Rio
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around El Rio. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Oxnard, CA has a cost of living index of 152, 1.0x El Rio.
Thousand Oaks, CA has a cost of living index of 190, 1.2x El Rio.
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA has a cost of living index of 168, 1.1x El Rio.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. El Rio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxnard, CA | 200,928 | 152 | 1.0x |
| Thousand Oaks, CA | 125,205 | 190 | 1.2x |
| San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA | 109,857 | 168 | 1.1x |
| Camarillo, CA | 70,186 | 172 | 1.1x |
| Moorpark, CA | 35,854 | 177 | 1.1x |
| Santa Paula, CA | 31,376 | 141 | 0.9x |
| Port Hueneme, CA | 21,582 | 147 | 0.9x |
| Fillmore, CA | 16,816 | 147 | 0.9x |
| Ojai, CA | 7,577 | 181 | 1.2x |
| Mira Monte, CA | 6,888 | 172 | 1.1x |








