What is the cost of living in Gonzales, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Gonzales has an overall cost of living index of 139, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Gonzales has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Gonzales ranks as #224 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Gonzales ranks as the #410 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Gonzales, check out:
Gonzales Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Gonzales. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Gonzales is 115.
The Groceries index in Gonzales is 116.
The Health index in Gonzales is 183.
The Housing index in Gonzales is 121.
The Transportation index in Gonzales is 120.
The Utilities index in Gonzales is 127.
| Living Expense | Gonzales | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 139 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 115 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 183 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 127 | 121 | 100 |
Gonzales 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 Gonzales Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Gonzales, 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 Gonzales is $627,871.
The Median Rent in Gonzales is $1,524.
The Median Income in Gonzales is $77,672.
The Home Value To Income in Gonzales is 8.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Gonzales is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Gonzales | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $627,871 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,524 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $77,672 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.1x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Gonzales, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Gonzales Services costs vs. California
| Item | Gonzales | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.66 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.31 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $33.3 | $18 |
| Haircut | $33.94 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $48.51 | $45.56 |
Detailed Gonzales Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Gonzales | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.79 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.13 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.05 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.77 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.92 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.99 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Gonzales Health costs vs. California
| Item | Gonzales | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $158.95 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $194.05 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $147.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Gonzales Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Gonzales | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.81 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $65.62 | $59.92 |
Detailed Gonzales Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Gonzales | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.74 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.07 | $192.25 |
Gonzales SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Gonzales
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Gonzales. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Salinas, CA has a cost of living index of 151, 1.1x Gonzales.
Morgan Hill, CA has a cost of living index of 202, 1.5x Gonzales.
Seaside, CA has a cost of living index of 156, 1.1x Gonzales.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Gonzales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas, CA | 161,761 | 151 | 1.1x |
| Morgan Hill, CA | 45,425 | 202 | 1.5x |
| Seaside, CA | 31,814 | 156 | 1.1x |
| Soledad, CA | 26,365 | 144 | 1.0x |
| Marina, CA | 22,563 | 158 | 1.1x |
| Prunedale, CA | 19,723 | 166 | 1.2x |
| Pacific Grove, CA | 14,951 | 197 | 1.4x |
| Scotts Valley, CA | 12,044 | 196 | 1.4x |
| Interlaken, CA | 8,068 | 160 | 1.2x |
| San Martin, CA | 6,954 | 214 | 1.5x |
