What is the cost of living in Poway, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Poway has an overall cost of living index of 179, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Poway has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Poway ranks as #467 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Poway ranks as the #167 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Poway, check out:
Poway Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Poway. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Poway is 110.
The Groceries index in Poway is 113.
The Health index in Poway is 331.
The Housing index in Poway is 119.
The Transportation index in Poway is 114.
The Utilities index in Poway is 121.
| Living Expense | Poway | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 179 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 331 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 119 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 114 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 121 | 121 | 100 |
Poway 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 Poway Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Poway, 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 Poway is $1,230,063.
The Median Rent in Poway is $2,301.
The Median Income in Poway is $148,359.
The Home Value To Income in Poway is 8.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Poway is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Poway | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,230,063 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,301 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $148,359 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.3x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Poway, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Poway Services costs vs. California
| Item | Poway | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.5 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.89 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.92 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.77 | $45.56 |
Detailed Poway Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Poway | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.05 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.98 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.25 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed Poway Health costs vs. California
| Item | Poway | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $138.66 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $132.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $121.37 | $113.29 |
Detailed Poway Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Poway | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.68 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.4 | $59.92 |
Detailed Poway Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Poway | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.42 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Poway SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Poway
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Poway. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
San Diego, CA has a cost of living index of 175, 1.0x Poway.
Escondido, CA has a cost of living index of 152, 0.8x Poway.
Carlsbad, CA has a cost of living index of 202, 1.1x Poway.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Poway |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | 1,389,526 | 175 | 1.0x |
| Escondido, CA | 149,668 | 152 | 0.8x |
| Carlsbad, CA | 114,373 | 202 | 1.1x |
| San Marcos, CA | 94,882 | 168 | 0.9x |
| Encinitas, CA | 61,480 | 213 | 1.2x |
| Santee, CA | 59,332 | 155 | 0.9x |
| La Presa, CA | 34,962 | 145 | 0.8x |
| Lemon Grove, CA | 27,686 | 145 | 0.8x |
| Ramona, CA | 22,634 | 155 | 0.9x |
| Winter Gardens, CA | 22,131 | 149 | 0.8x |
