What is the cost of living in Stockton, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Stockton has an overall cost of living index of 126, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Stockton has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Stockton ranks as #140 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Stockton ranks as the #494 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Stockton, check out:
Stockton Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Stockton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Stockton is 111.
The Groceries index in Stockton is 113.
The Health index in Stockton is 151.
The Housing index in Stockton is 123.
The Transportation index in Stockton is 118.
The Utilities index in Stockton is 124.
| Living Expense | Stockton | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 126 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 151 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 123 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 124 | 121 | 100 |
Stockton 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 Stockton Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Stockton, 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 Stockton is $431,328.
The Median Rent in Stockton is $1,577.
The Median Income in Stockton is $79,907.
The Home Value To Income in Stockton is 5.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Stockton is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Stockton | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $431,328 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,577 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $79,907 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Stockton, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Stockton Services costs vs. California
| Item | Stockton | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.5 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.61 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.34 | $18 |
| Haircut | $23.42 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $49.62 | $45.56 |
Detailed Stockton Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Stockton | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.24 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.1 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.83 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.43 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $16.78 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.08 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.64 | $3.7 |
Detailed Stockton Health costs vs. California
| Item | Stockton | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $138.22 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $134.39 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.52 | $113.29 |
Detailed Stockton Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Stockton | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.21 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $73.1 | $59.92 |
Detailed Stockton Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Stockton | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $327.22 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.16 | $192.25 |
Stockton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Stockton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Stockton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Tracy, CA has a cost of living index of 153, 1.2x Stockton.
Manteca, CA has a cost of living index of 144, 1.1x Stockton.
Lodi, CA has a cost of living index of 133, 1.1x Stockton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Stockton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tracy, CA | 96,966 | 153 | 1.2x |
| Manteca, CA | 89,043 | 144 | 1.1x |
| Lodi, CA | 67,607 | 133 | 1.1x |
| Lincoln, CA | 52,956 | 155 | 1.2x |
| Lathrop, CA | 35,052 | 141 | 1.1x |
| Mountain House, CA | 25,513 | 182 | 1.4x |
| Ripon, CA | 16,201 | 152 | 1.2x |
| Discovery Bay, CA | 14,911 | 180 | 1.4x |
| Garden Acres, CA | 10,667 | 117 | 0.9x |
| Country Club, CA | 10,161 | 125 | 1.0x |
