What is the cost of living in Ridgecrest, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Ridgecrest has an overall cost of living index of 112, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Ridgecrest has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Ridgecrest ranks as #39 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Ridgecrest ranks as the #595 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Ridgecrest, check out:
Ridgecrest Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Ridgecrest. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Ridgecrest is 107.
The Groceries index in Ridgecrest is 119.
The Health index in Ridgecrest is 99.
The Housing index in Ridgecrest is 118.
The Transportation index in Ridgecrest is 115.
The Utilities index in Ridgecrest is 119.
| Living Expense | Ridgecrest | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 112 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 119 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 99 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 121 | 100 |
Ridgecrest 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 Ridgecrest Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Ridgecrest, 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 Ridgecrest is $269,057.
The Median Rent in Ridgecrest is $1,186.
The Median Income in Ridgecrest is $89,250.
The Home Value To Income in Ridgecrest is 3.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Ridgecrest is 0.16x.
| Statistic | Ridgecrest | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $269,057 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,186 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $89,250 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Ridgecrest, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Ridgecrest Services costs vs. California
| Item | Ridgecrest | 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 Ridgecrest Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Ridgecrest | 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 Ridgecrest Health costs vs. California
| Item | Ridgecrest | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $142.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $131.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Ridgecrest Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Ridgecrest | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Ridgecrest Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Ridgecrest | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $231.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $193.81 | $192.25 |
