What is the cost of living in Selma, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Selma has an overall cost of living index of 116, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Selma has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Selma ranks as #66 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Selma ranks as the #568 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Selma, check out:
Selma Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Selma. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Selma is 115.
The Groceries index in Selma is 119.
The Health index in Selma is 105.
The Housing index in Selma is 123.
The Transportation index in Selma is 127.
The Utilities index in Selma is 119.
| Living Expense | Selma | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 116 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 115 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 119 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 105 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 123 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 127 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 121 | 100 |
Selma 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 Selma Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Selma, 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 Selma is $362,733.
The Median Rent in Selma is $1,232.
The Median Income in Selma is $60,241.
The Home Value To Income in Selma is 6.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Selma is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Selma | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $362,733 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,232 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $60,241 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Selma, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Selma Services costs vs. California
| Item | Selma | 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 Selma Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Selma | 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 Selma Health costs vs. California
| Item | Selma | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $142.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $131.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Selma Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Selma | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Selma Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Selma | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $231.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $193.81 | $192.25 |
Selma SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Selma
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Selma. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Fresno, CA has a cost of living index of 122, 1.1x Selma.
Clovis, CA has a cost of living index of 130, 1.1x Selma.
Hanford, CA has a cost of living index of 118, 1.0x Selma.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Selma |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | 545,970 | 122 | 1.1x |
| Clovis, CA | 124,725 | 130 | 1.1x |
| Hanford, CA | 59,754 | 118 | 1.0x |
| Sanger, CA | 26,699 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Reedley, CA | 25,609 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Dinuba, CA | 25,475 | 119 | 1.0x |
| Parlier, CA | 14,507 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Kingsburg, CA | 12,755 | 124 | 1.1x |
| Fowler, CA | 7,094 | 123 | 1.1x |
| Old Fig Garden, CA | 5,503 | 139 | 1.2x |
