What is the cost of living in Monterey, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Monterey has an overall cost of living index of 193, which is 1.9x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Monterey has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Monterey ranks as #502 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Monterey ranks as the #132 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Monterey, check out:
Monterey Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Monterey. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Monterey is 111.
The Groceries index in Monterey is 115.
The Health index in Monterey is 374.
The Housing index in Monterey is 116.
The Transportation index in Monterey is 116.
The Utilities index in Monterey is 118.
| Living Expense | Monterey | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 193 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 374 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 118 | 121 | 100 |
Monterey 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 Monterey Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Monterey, 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 Monterey is $1,168,149.
The Median Rent in Monterey is $2,353.
The Median Income in Monterey is $102,846.
The Home Value To Income in Monterey is 11.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Monterey is 0.27x.
| Statistic | Monterey | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,168,149 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,353 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $102,846 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 11.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.27x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Monterey, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Monterey Services costs vs. California
| Item | Monterey | 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 Monterey Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Monterey | 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 Monterey Health costs vs. California
| Item | Monterey | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $158.95 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $194.05 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $147.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Monterey Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Monterey | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.81 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $65.62 | $59.92 |
Detailed Monterey Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Monterey | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.74 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.07 | $192.25 |
Monterey SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Monterey
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Monterey. 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, 0.8x Monterey.
Seaside, CA has a cost of living index of 156, 0.8x Monterey.
Marina, CA has a cost of living index of 158, 0.8x Monterey.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Monterey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas, CA | 161,761 | 151 | 0.8x |
| Seaside, CA | 31,814 | 156 | 0.8x |
| Marina, CA | 22,563 | 158 | 0.8x |
| Prunedale, CA | 19,723 | 166 | 0.9x |
| Pacific Grove, CA | 14,951 | 197 | 1.0x |
| Castroville, CA | 6,720 | 159 | 0.8x |
