What is the cost of living in Santa Clarita, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Santa Clarita has an overall cost of living index of 165, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Santa Clarita has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Santa Clarita ranks as #394 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Santa Clarita ranks as the #240 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Santa Clarita, check out:
Santa Clarita Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Santa Clarita. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Santa Clarita is 108.
The Groceries index in Santa Clarita is 121.
The Health index in Santa Clarita is 275.
The Housing index in Santa Clarita is 124.
The Transportation index in Santa Clarita is 117.
The Utilities index in Santa Clarita is 123.
| Living Expense | Santa Clarita | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 165 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 121 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 275 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 124 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 123 | 121 | 100 |
Santa Clarita 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 Santa Clarita Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Santa Clarita, 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 Santa Clarita is $802,016.
The Median Rent in Santa Clarita is $2,544.
The Median Income in Santa Clarita is $123,062.
The Home Value To Income in Santa Clarita is 6.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Santa Clarita is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Santa Clarita | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $802,016 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,544 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $123,062 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.5x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Santa Clarita, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Santa Clarita Services costs vs. California
| Item | Santa Clarita | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.41 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.46 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.07 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $49.33 | $45.56 |
Detailed Santa Clarita Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Santa Clarita | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.26 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.08 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $16.13 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.6 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.76 | $3.7 |
Detailed Santa Clarita Health costs vs. California
| Item | Santa Clarita | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed Santa Clarita Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Santa Clarita | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Santa Clarita Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Santa Clarita | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
Santa Clarita SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Santa Clarita
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Santa Clarita. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Simi Valley, CA has a cost of living index of 177, 1.1x Santa Clarita.
San Fernando, CA has a cost of living index of 151, 0.9x Santa Clarita.
Stevenson Ranch, CA has a cost of living index of 195, 1.2x Santa Clarita.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Santa Clarita |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simi Valley, CA | 125,634 | 177 | 1.1x |
| San Fernando, CA | 23,632 | 151 | 0.9x |
| Stevenson Ranch, CA | 20,990 | 195 | 1.2x |
| La Crescenta-Montrose, CA | 19,660 | 200 | 1.2x |
| Castaic, CA | 17,999 | 166 | 1.0x |
| Acton, CA | 7,880 | 161 | 1.0x |
| Burbank, CA | 5,333 | 192 | 1.2x |
