What is the cost of living in Riverside, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Riverside has an overall cost of living index of 138, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Riverside has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Riverside ranks as #215 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Riverside ranks as the #419 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Riverside, check out:
Riverside Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Riverside. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Riverside is 110.
The Groceries index in Riverside is 119.
The Health index in Riverside is 191.
The Housing index in Riverside is 121.
The Transportation index in Riverside is 124.
The Utilities index in Riverside is 116.
| Living Expense | Riverside | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 138 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 119 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 191 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 124 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 116 | 121 | 100 |
Riverside 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 Riverside Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Riverside, 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 Riverside is $646,784.
The Median Rent in Riverside is $1,914.
The Median Income in Riverside is $91,045.
The Home Value To Income in Riverside is 7.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Riverside is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Riverside | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $646,784 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,914 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $91,045 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.1x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Riverside, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Riverside Services costs vs. California
| Item | Riverside | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.34 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.04 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.11 | $18 |
| Haircut | $27.27 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $41.78 | $45.56 |
Detailed Riverside Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Riverside | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.89 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.49 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.92 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.92 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.31 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.26 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed Riverside Health costs vs. California
| Item | Riverside | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Riverside Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Riverside | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Riverside Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Riverside | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Riverside SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Riverside
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Riverside. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Rancho Cucamonga, CA has a cost of living index of 159, 1.2x Riverside.
Corona, CA has a cost of living index of 152, 1.1x Riverside.
Jurupa Valley, CA has a cost of living index of 139, 1.0x Riverside.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Riverside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 175,411 | 159 | 1.2x |
| Corona, CA | 159,670 | 152 | 1.1x |
| Jurupa Valley, CA | 107,011 | 139 | 1.0x |
| Upland, CA | 79,257 | 158 | 1.1x |
| Chino Hills, CA | 77,927 | 177 | 1.3x |
| Eastvale, CA | 70,633 | 174 | 1.3x |
| Colton, CA | 53,772 | 125 | 0.9x |
| El Cerrito, CA | 25,994 | 203 | 1.5x |
| Bloomington, CA | 25,698 | 129 | 0.9x |
| Loma Linda, CA | 25,122 | 140 | 1.0x |
