What is the cost of living in Shafter, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Shafter has an overall cost of living index of 113, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Shafter has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Shafter ranks as #48 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Shafter ranks as the #586 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Shafter, check out:
Shafter Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Shafter. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Shafter is 112.
The Groceries index in Shafter is 112.
The Health index in Shafter is 104.
The Housing index in Shafter is 119.
The Transportation index in Shafter is 116.
The Utilities index in Shafter is 110.
| Living Expense | Shafter | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 113 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 104 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 119 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 110 | 121 | 100 |
Shafter 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 Shafter Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Shafter, 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 Shafter is $382,593.
The Median Rent in Shafter is $1,253.
The Median Income in Shafter is $71,215.
The Home Value To Income in Shafter is 5.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Shafter is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Shafter | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $382,593 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,253 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $71,215 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Shafter, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Shafter Services costs vs. California
| Item | Shafter | 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 Shafter Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Shafter | 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 Shafter Health costs vs. California
| Item | Shafter | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $142.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $131.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Shafter Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Shafter | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Shafter Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Shafter | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $231.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $193.81 | $192.25 |
Shafter SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Shafter
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Shafter. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Bakersfield, CA has a cost of living index of 124, 1.1x Shafter.
Oildale, CA has a cost of living index of 108, 1.0x Shafter.
Wasco, CA has a cost of living index of 111, 1.0x Shafter.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Shafter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | 411,986 | 124 | 1.1x |
| Oildale, CA | 34,687 | 108 | 1.0x |
| Wasco, CA | 26,558 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Rosedale, CA | 18,877 | 142 | 1.3x |
| McFarland, CA | 14,222 | 112 | 1.0x |
