What is the cost of living in Morro Bay, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Morro Bay has an overall cost of living index of 169, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Morro Bay has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Morro Bay ranks as #418 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Morro Bay ranks as the #216 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Morro Bay, check out:
Morro Bay Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Morro Bay. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Morro Bay is 111.
The Groceries index in Morro Bay is 115.
The Health index in Morro Bay is 299.
The Housing index in Morro Bay is 116.
The Transportation index in Morro Bay is 118.
The Utilities index in Morro Bay is 113.
| Living Expense | Morro Bay | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 169 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 299 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 121 | 100 |
Morro Bay 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 Morro Bay Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Morro Bay, 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 Morro Bay is $955,622.
The Median Rent in Morro Bay is $1,858.
The Median Income in Morro Bay is $95,843.
The Home Value To Income in Morro Bay is 10.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Morro Bay is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Morro Bay | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $955,622 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,858 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $95,843 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Morro Bay, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Morro Bay Services costs vs. California
| Item | Morro Bay | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.48 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $18.12 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $89.33 | $45.56 |
Detailed Morro Bay Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Morro Bay | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.77 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.63 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.91 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.9 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.13 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed Morro Bay Health costs vs. California
| Item | Morro Bay | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $142.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $131.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Morro Bay Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Morro Bay | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Morro Bay Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Morro Bay | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $231.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $193.81 | $192.25 |
Morro Bay SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Morro Bay
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Morro Bay. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
San Luis Obispo, CA has a cost of living index of 175, 1.0x Morro Bay.
Atascadero, CA has a cost of living index of 156, 0.9x Morro Bay.
Los Osos, CA has a cost of living index of 163, 1.0x Morro Bay.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Morro Bay |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo, CA | 48,491 | 175 | 1.0x |
| Atascadero, CA | 29,712 | 156 | 0.9x |
| Los Osos, CA | 14,166 | 163 | 1.0x |
| Templeton, CA | 9,580 | 165 | 1.0x |
| Pismo Beach, CA | 8,014 | 184 | 1.1x |
| Cambria, CA | 5,978 | 174 | 1.0x |
