What is the cost of living in Seaside, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Seaside has an overall cost of living index of 156, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Seaside has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Seaside ranks as #340 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Seaside ranks as the #294 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Seaside, check out:
Seaside Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Seaside. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Seaside is 109.
The Groceries index in Seaside is 112.
The Health index in Seaside is 261.
The Housing index in Seaside is 112.
The Transportation index in Seaside is 117.
The Utilities index in Seaside is 120.
| Living Expense | Seaside | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 156 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 261 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 120 | 121 | 100 |
Seaside 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 Seaside Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Seaside, 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 Seaside is $802,034.
The Median Rent in Seaside is $2,409.
The Median Income in Seaside is $85,311.
The Home Value To Income in Seaside is 9.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Seaside is 0.34x.
| Statistic | Seaside | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $802,034 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,409 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $85,311 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.34x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Seaside, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Seaside Services costs vs. California
| Item | Seaside | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.66 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.31 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $33.3 | $18 |
| Haircut | $33.94 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $48.51 | $45.56 |
Detailed Seaside Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Seaside | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.79 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.13 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.05 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.77 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.92 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.99 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Seaside Health costs vs. California
| Item | Seaside | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $158.95 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $194.05 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $147.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Seaside Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Seaside | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.81 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $65.62 | $59.92 |
Detailed Seaside Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Seaside | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.74 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.07 | $192.25 |
Seaside SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Seaside
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Seaside. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Salinas, CA has a cost of living index of 151, 1.0x Seaside.
Monterey, CA has a cost of living index of 193, 1.2x Seaside.
Marina, CA has a cost of living index of 158, 1.0x Seaside.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Seaside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas, CA | 161,761 | 151 | 1.0x |
| Monterey, CA | 29,613 | 193 | 1.2x |
| Marina, CA | 22,563 | 158 | 1.0x |
| Prunedale, CA | 19,723 | 166 | 1.1x |
| Pacific Grove, CA | 14,951 | 197 | 1.3x |
| Castroville, CA | 6,720 | 159 | 1.0x |
