What is the cost of living in Grass Valley, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Grass Valley has an overall cost of living index of 130, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Grass Valley has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Grass Valley ranks as #163 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Grass Valley ranks as the #471 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Grass Valley, check out:
Grass Valley Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Grass Valley. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Grass Valley is 110.
The Groceries index in Grass Valley is 115.
The Health index in Grass Valley is 164.
The Housing index in Grass Valley is 117.
The Transportation index in Grass Valley is 114.
The Utilities index in Grass Valley is 117.
| Living Expense | Grass Valley | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 130 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 164 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 114 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 117 | 121 | 100 |
Grass Valley 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 Grass Valley Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Grass Valley, 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 Grass Valley is $509,977.
The Median Rent in Grass Valley is $1,458.
The Median Income in Grass Valley is $51,764.
The Home Value To Income in Grass Valley is 9.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Grass Valley is 0.34x.
| Statistic | Grass Valley | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $509,977 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,458 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $51,764 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.9x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.34x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Grass Valley, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Grass Valley Services costs vs. California
| Item | Grass Valley | 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 Grass Valley Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Grass Valley | 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 Grass Valley Health costs vs. California
| Item | Grass Valley | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $153.5 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $201.43 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.72 | $113.29 |
Detailed Grass Valley Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Grass Valley | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.51 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Grass Valley Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Grass Valley | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $238.53 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.81 | $192.25 |
Grass Valley SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Grass Valley
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Grass Valley. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Folsom, CA has a cost of living index of 163, 1.3x Grass Valley.
Rocklin, CA has a cost of living index of 157, 1.2x Grass Valley.
El Dorado Hills, CA has a cost of living index of 172, 1.3x Grass Valley.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Grass Valley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folsom, CA | 83,916 | 163 | 1.3x |
| Rocklin, CA | 73,327 | 157 | 1.2x |
| El Dorado Hills, CA | 51,026 | 172 | 1.3x |
| Antelope, CA | 48,301 | 138 | 1.1x |
| Orangevale, CA | 35,958 | 140 | 1.1x |
| Fair Oaks, CA | 32,799 | 152 | 1.2x |
| Rosemont, CA | 23,766 | 134 | 1.0x |
| Granite Bay, CA | 21,673 | 195 | 1.5x |
| La Riviera, CA | 11,492 | 130 | 1.0x |
| Gold River, CA | 7,924 | 159 | 1.2x |
