Madera, CA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Madera, CA Summary

Cost of living in Madera research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Madera is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in California, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Madera is 115, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Madera is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • Madera ranks as the #82 cheapest in California out of 634.

  • Madera ranks as the #4,090 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Madera is $417,951.

  • The median income in Madera is $63,619.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
115
Madera's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Madera, CA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Madera has an overall cost of living index of 115, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to California, Madera has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than California's index of 141.

The standard of living in Madera ranks as #82 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Madera ranks as the #552 most expensive place in the Golden State.

For more reading on life in Madera, check out:

82 out of 634
In California
4,090 out of 6,489
In America

Madera Cost Of Living Vs. California

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Madera. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Madera is 103.

  • The Groceries index in Madera is 102.

  • The Health index in Madera is 97.

  • The Housing index in Madera is 124.

  • The Transportation index in Madera is 119.

  • The Utilities index in Madera is 139.

Living Expense Madera California National Average
Overall 115 141 100
Services 103 110 100
Groceries 102 112 100
Health 97 110 100
Housing 124 195 100
Transportation 119 125 100
Utilities 139 128 100
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Madera Cost of Living Vs. CA

Madera, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Madera is $417,951.

  • The Median Rent in Madera is $1,237.

  • The Median Income in Madera is $63,619.

  • The Home Value To Income in Madera is 6.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Madera is 0.23x.

Statistic Madera California United States
Median Home Value $417,951 $763,287 $303,400
Median Rent $1,237 $1,956 $1,348
Median Income $63,619 $96,334 $78,538
Home Value To Income 6.6x 7.9x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.23x 0.24x 0.21x
$417,951
Median Home Value
$1,237
Median Rent
$63,619
Median Income

Madera, CA Costs By Category

Detailed Madera Services Costs Vs. California

Item Madera California
Shampoo $1.56 $1.28
Movie $14.64 $12.13
Bowling $23.78 $18
Haircut $26.83 $24.26
Beauty Salon $76.57 $45.56

Detailed Madera Groceries Costs Vs. California

Item Madera California
Ground Beef $6.21 $5.84
Fried Chicken $2.1 $1.57
Milk $4.99 $4.67
Potatoes $4.98 $4.93
Pizza $15.69 $12.09
Beer $10.96 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.86 $3.7

Detailed Madera Health Costs Vs. California

Item Madera California
Optometrist $157.88 $125.68
Doctor $166.71 $135.78
Dentist $148.27 $113.29

Detailed Madera Transportation Costs Vs. California

Item Madera California
Gasoline $4.63 $3.46
Tire Balancing $70.51 $59.92

Detailed Madera Utilities Costs Vs. California

Item Madera California
All Electricity $299.78 $193.99
Phone $191.56 $192.25

Madera SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
5/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
4
Diversity
8
Safety
5
Amenities
9.5
Education
3
Commute
6

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Madera

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Madera. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Chowchilla, CA has a cost of living index of 111, 1.0x Madera.

  • Kerman, CA has a cost of living index of 114, 1.0x Madera.

  • Madera Acres, CA has a cost of living index of 122, 1.1x Madera.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Madera
Chowchilla, CA 18,876 111 1.0x
Kerman, CA 16,492 114 1.0x
Madera Acres, CA 9,758 122 1.1x
Old Fig Garden, CA 5,387 132 1.1x

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