What is the cost of living in San Bernardino, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, San Bernardino has an overall cost of living index of 125, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, San Bernardino has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in San Bernardino ranks as #132 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies San Bernardino ranks as the #502 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in San Bernardino, check out:
San Bernardino Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in San Bernardino. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in San Bernardino is 108.
The Groceries index in San Bernardino is 119.
The Health index in San Bernardino is 135.
The Housing index in San Bernardino is 120.
The Transportation index in San Bernardino is 118.
The Utilities index in San Bernardino is 124.
| Living Expense | San Bernardino | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 125 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 119 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 135 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 120 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 124 | 121 | 100 |
San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
San Bernardino, 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 San Bernardino is $487,988.
The Median Rent in San Bernardino is $1,508.
The Median Income in San Bernardino is $67,415.
The Home Value To Income in San Bernardino is 7.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in San Bernardino is 0.27x.
| Statistic | San Bernardino | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $487,988 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,508 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $67,415 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.2x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.27x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
San Bernardino, CA Costs By Category
Detailed San Bernardino Services costs vs. California
| Item | San Bernardino | 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 San Bernardino Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | San Bernardino | 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 San Bernardino Health costs vs. California
| Item | San Bernardino | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed San Bernardino Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | San Bernardino | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed San Bernardino Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | San Bernardino | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
San Bernardino SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around San Bernardino
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around San Bernardino. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Fontana, CA has a cost of living index of 142, 1.1x San Bernardino.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA has a cost of living index of 159, 1.3x San Bernardino.
Rialto, CA has a cost of living index of 133, 1.1x San Bernardino.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. San Bernardino |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fontana, CA | 214,169 | 142 | 1.1x |
| Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 175,411 | 159 | 1.3x |
| Rialto, CA | 104,143 | 133 | 1.1x |
| Redlands, CA | 73,375 | 145 | 1.2x |
| Highland, CA | 56,675 | 133 | 1.1x |
| Yucaipa, CA | 54,421 | 136 | 1.1x |
| Colton, CA | 53,772 | 125 | 1.0x |
| Bloomington, CA | 25,698 | 129 | 1.0x |
| Loma Linda, CA | 25,122 | 140 | 1.1x |
| Woodcrest, CA | 17,368 | 159 | 1.3x |
