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 119, which is 1.2x 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 142.
The standard of living in Madera ranks as #89 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Madera ranks as the #545 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Madera, check out:
Madera Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Madera. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Madera is 108.
The Groceries index in Madera is 115.
The Health index in Madera is 127.
The Housing index in Madera is 118.
The Transportation index in Madera is 123.
The Utilities index in Madera is 119.
| Living Expense | Madera | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 119 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 127 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 123 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 121 | 100 |
Madera 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 Madera Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Madera is $423,813.
The Median Rent in Madera is $1,353.
The Median Income in Madera is $63,933.
The Home Value To Income in Madera is 6.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Madera is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Madera | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $423,813 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,353 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $63,933 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.6x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
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
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 113, 0.9x Madera.
Kerman, CA has a cost of living index of 122, 1.0x Madera.
Madera Acres, CA has a cost of living index of 124, 1.0x Madera.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Madera |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chowchilla, CA | 19,020 | 113 | 0.9x |
| Kerman, CA | 16,815 | 122 | 1.0x |
| Madera Acres, CA | 9,846 | 124 | 1.0x |
| Old Fig Garden, CA | 5,503 | 139 | 1.2x |
