What is the cost of living in Pacific Grove, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Pacific Grove has an overall cost of living index of 197, which is 2.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Pacific Grove has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Pacific Grove ranks as #516 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Pacific Grove ranks as the #118 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Pacific Grove, check out:
Pacific Grove Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Pacific Grove. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Pacific Grove is 109.
The Groceries index in Pacific Grove is 114.
The Health index in Pacific Grove is 399.
The Housing index in Pacific Grove is 114.
The Transportation index in Pacific Grove is 117.
The Utilities index in Pacific Grove is 118.
| Living Expense | Pacific Grove | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 197 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 399 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 114 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 118 | 121 | 100 |
Pacific Grove 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 Pacific Grove Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Pacific Grove, 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 Pacific Grove is $1,405,345.
The Median Rent in Pacific Grove is $2,455.
The Median Income in Pacific Grove is $106,065.
The Home Value To Income in Pacific Grove is 13.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Pacific Grove is 0.28x.
| Statistic | Pacific Grove | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,405,345 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,455 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $106,065 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 13.2x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.28x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Pacific Grove, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Pacific Grove Services costs vs. California
| Item | Pacific Grove | 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 Pacific Grove Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Pacific Grove | 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 Pacific Grove Health costs vs. California
| Item | Pacific Grove | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $158.95 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $194.05 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $147.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Pacific Grove Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Pacific Grove | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.81 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $65.62 | $59.92 |
Detailed Pacific Grove Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Pacific Grove | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.74 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.07 | $192.25 |
Pacific Grove SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Pacific Grove
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Pacific Grove. 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 Pacific Grove.
Seaside, CA has a cost of living index of 156, 0.8x Pacific Grove.
Monterey, CA has a cost of living index of 193, 1.0x Pacific Grove.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Pacific Grove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas, CA | 161,761 | 151 | 0.8x |
| Seaside, CA | 31,814 | 156 | 0.8x |
| Monterey, CA | 29,613 | 193 | 1.0x |
| Marina, CA | 22,563 | 158 | 0.8x |
| Prunedale, CA | 19,723 | 166 | 0.8x |
| Castroville, CA | 6,720 | 159 | 0.8x |
