What is the cost of living in Tehachapi, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Tehachapi has an overall cost of living index of 117, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Tehachapi has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Tehachapi ranks as #73 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Tehachapi ranks as the #561 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Tehachapi, check out:
Tehachapi Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Tehachapi. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Tehachapi is 110.
The Groceries index in Tehachapi is 117.
The Health index in Tehachapi is 121.
The Housing index in Tehachapi is 118.
The Transportation index in Tehachapi is 118.
The Utilities index in Tehachapi is 119.
| Living Expense | Tehachapi | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 117 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 121 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 121 | 100 |
Tehachapi 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 Tehachapi Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Tehachapi, 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 Tehachapi is $424,155.
The Median Rent in Tehachapi is $1,295.
The Median Income in Tehachapi is $72,957.
The Home Value To Income in Tehachapi is 5.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Tehachapi is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Tehachapi | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $424,155 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,295 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $72,957 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.8x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Tehachapi, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Tehachapi Services costs vs. California
| Item | Tehachapi | 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 Tehachapi Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Tehachapi | 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 Tehachapi Health costs vs. California
| Item | Tehachapi | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $142.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $131.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Tehachapi Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Tehachapi | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Tehachapi Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Tehachapi | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $231.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $193.81 | $192.25 |
Tehachapi SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Tehachapi
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Tehachapi. 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 Tehachapi.
Oildale, CA has a cost of living index of 108, 0.9x Tehachapi.
Rosamond, CA has a cost of living index of 115, 1.0x Tehachapi.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Tehachapi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | 411,986 | 124 | 1.1x |
| Oildale, CA | 34,687 | 108 | 0.9x |
| Rosamond, CA | 21,473 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Shafter, CA | 21,193 | 113 | 1.0x |
| Arvin, CA | 19,539 | 111 | 0.9x |
| Rosedale, CA | 18,877 | 142 | 1.2x |
| Castaic, CA | 17,999 | 166 | 1.4x |
| Lamont, CA | 13,164 | 107 | 0.9x |
| Quartz Hill, CA | 11,510 | 132 | 1.1x |
| Golden Hills, CA | 9,891 | 124 | 1.1x |
