What is the cost of living in Pismo Beach, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Pismo Beach has an overall cost of living index of 184, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Pismo Beach has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Pismo Beach ranks as #479 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Pismo Beach ranks as the #155 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Pismo Beach, check out:
Pismo Beach Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Pismo Beach. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Pismo Beach is 105.
The Groceries index in Pismo Beach is 112.
The Health index in Pismo Beach is 353.
The Housing index in Pismo Beach is 117.
The Transportation index in Pismo Beach is 111.
The Utilities index in Pismo Beach is 125.
| Living Expense | Pismo Beach | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 184 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 353 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 111 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 125 | 121 | 100 |
Pismo Beach 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 Pismo Beach Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Pismo Beach, 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 Pismo Beach is $1,123,130.
The Median Rent in Pismo Beach is $2,232.
The Median Income in Pismo Beach is $118,072.
The Home Value To Income in Pismo Beach is 9.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Pismo Beach is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Pismo Beach | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,123,130 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,232 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $118,072 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.5x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Pismo Beach, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Pismo Beach Services costs vs. California
| Item | Pismo Beach | 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 Pismo Beach Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Pismo Beach | 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 Pismo Beach Health costs vs. California
| Item | Pismo Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $142.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $131.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Pismo Beach Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Pismo Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Pismo Beach Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Pismo Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $231.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $193.81 | $192.25 |
Pismo Beach SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Pismo Beach
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Pismo Beach. 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 Pismo Beach.
Arroyo Grande, CA has a cost of living index of 168, 0.9x Pismo Beach.
Nipomo, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 0.9x Pismo Beach.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Pismo Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo, CA | 48,491 | 175 | 1.0x |
| Arroyo Grande, CA | 18,372 | 168 | 0.9x |
| Nipomo, CA | 17,516 | 166 | 0.9x |
| Los Osos, CA | 14,166 | 163 | 0.9x |
| Grover Beach, CA | 12,604 | 157 | 0.9x |
| Morro Bay, CA | 10,692 | 169 | 0.9x |
| Guadalupe, CA | 8,566 | 132 | 0.7x |
| Oceano, CA | 7,128 | 136 | 0.7x |
