What is the cost of living in Taft, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Taft has an overall cost of living index of 112, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Taft has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Taft ranks as #39 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Taft ranks as the #595 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Taft, check out:
Taft Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Taft. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Taft is 112.
The Groceries index in Taft is 117.
The Health index in Taft is 96.
The Housing index in Taft is 121.
The Transportation index in Taft is 117.
The Utilities index in Taft is 123.
| Living Expense | Taft | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 112 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 96 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 123 | 121 | 100 |
Taft 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 Taft Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Taft, 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 Taft is $205,745.
The Median Rent in Taft is $1,069.
The Median Income in Taft is $72,772.
The Home Value To Income in Taft is 2.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Taft is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Taft | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $205,745 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,069 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $72,772 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.8x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Taft, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Taft Services costs vs. California
| Item | Taft | 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 Taft Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Taft | 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 Taft Health costs vs. California
| Item | Taft | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $142.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $131.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Taft Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Taft | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Taft Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Taft | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $231.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $193.81 | $192.25 |
Taft SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Taft
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Taft. 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 Taft.
Oildale, CA has a cost of living index of 108, 1.0x Taft.
Shafter, CA has a cost of living index of 113, 1.0x Taft.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Taft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | 411,986 | 124 | 1.1x |
| Oildale, CA | 34,687 | 108 | 1.0x |
| Shafter, CA | 21,193 | 113 | 1.0x |
| Rosedale, CA | 18,877 | 142 | 1.3x |
| McFarland, CA | 14,222 | 112 | 1.0x |
| Montecito, CA | 9,031 | 338 | 3.0x |
| Ojai, CA | 7,577 | 181 | 1.6x |
| Mira Monte, CA | 6,888 | 172 | 1.5x |
