What is the cost of living in Paradise, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Paradise has an overall cost of living index of 125, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Paradise has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Paradise ranks as #132 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Paradise ranks as the #502 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Paradise, check out:
Paradise Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Paradise. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Paradise is 109.
The Groceries index in Paradise is 115.
The Health index in Paradise is 135.
The Housing index in Paradise is 121.
The Transportation index in Paradise is 115.
The Utilities index in Paradise is 123.
| Living Expense | Paradise | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 125 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 135 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 123 | 121 | 100 |
Paradise 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 Paradise Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Paradise, 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 Paradise is $334,278.
The Median Rent in Paradise is $1,241.
The Median Income in Paradise is $67,687.
The Home Value To Income in Paradise is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Paradise is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Paradise | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $334,278 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,241 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $67,687 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.9x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Paradise, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Paradise Services costs vs. California
| Item | Paradise | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.44 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.76 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.22 | $18 |
| Haircut | $40.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $60.53 | $45.56 |
Detailed Paradise Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Paradise | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.56 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.06 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.93 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.69 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.98 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.49 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.67 | $3.7 |
Detailed Paradise Health costs vs. California
| Item | Paradise | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $153.5 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $201.43 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.72 | $113.29 |
Detailed Paradise Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Paradise | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.51 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Paradise Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Paradise | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $238.53 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.81 | $192.25 |
Paradise SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Paradise
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Paradise. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Chico, CA has a cost of living index of 134, 1.1x Paradise.
Oroville, CA has a cost of living index of 112, 0.9x Paradise.
Magalia, CA has a cost of living index of 114, 0.9x Paradise.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Paradise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chico, CA | 102,188 | 134 | 1.1x |
| Oroville, CA | 19,752 | 112 | 0.9x |
| Magalia, CA | 7,389 | 114 | 0.9x |
| Thermalito, CA | 6,720 | 109 | 0.9x |
| Durham, CA | 5,340 | 158 | 1.3x |
