What is the cost of living in Imperial, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Imperial has an overall cost of living index of 119, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Imperial has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Imperial ranks as #89 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Imperial ranks as the #545 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Imperial, check out:
Imperial Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Imperial. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Imperial is 112.
The Groceries index in Imperial is 113.
The Health index in Imperial is 132.
The Housing index in Imperial is 114.
The Transportation index in Imperial is 112.
The Utilities index in Imperial is 116.
| Living Expense | Imperial | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 119 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 132 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 114 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 116 | 121 | 100 |
Imperial 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 Imperial Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Imperial, 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 Imperial is $437,251.
The Median Rent in Imperial is $1,255.
The Median Income in Imperial is $90,195.
The Home Value To Income in Imperial is 4.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Imperial is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Imperial | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $437,251 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,255 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $90,195 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.8x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Imperial, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Imperial Services costs vs. California
| Item | Imperial | 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 Imperial Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Imperial | 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 Imperial Health costs vs. California
| Item | Imperial | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $138.66 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $132.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $121.37 | $113.29 |
Detailed Imperial Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Imperial | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.68 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.4 | $59.92 |
Detailed Imperial Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Imperial | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.42 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Imperial SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Imperial
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Imperial. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
El Centro, CA has a cost of living index of 111, 0.9x Imperial.
Calexico, CA has a cost of living index of 113, 0.9x Imperial.
Brawley, CA has a cost of living index of 113, 0.9x Imperial.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Imperial |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | 44,240 | 111 | 0.9x |
| Calexico, CA | 38,585 | 113 | 0.9x |
| Brawley, CA | 27,283 | 113 | 0.9x |
| Heber, CA | 7,312 | 112 | 0.9x |
| Calipatria, CA | 6,548 | 101 | 0.8x |
| Holtville, CA | 5,617 | 109 | 0.9x |
