What is the cost of living in Tulare, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Tulare has an overall cost of living index of 115, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Tulare has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Tulare ranks as #59 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Tulare ranks as the #575 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Tulare, check out:
Tulare Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Tulare. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Tulare is 113.
The Groceries index in Tulare is 115.
The Health index in Tulare is 124.
The Housing index in Tulare is 115.
The Transportation index in Tulare is 116.
The Utilities index in Tulare is 120.
| Living Expense | Tulare | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 115 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 113 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 124 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 120 | 121 | 100 |
Tulare 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 Tulare Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Tulare, 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 Tulare is $353,915.
The Median Rent in Tulare is $1,435.
The Median Income in Tulare is $72,410.
The Home Value To Income in Tulare is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Tulare is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Tulare | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $353,915 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,435 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $72,410 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.9x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Tulare, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Tulare Services costs vs. California
| Item | Tulare | 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 Tulare Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Tulare | 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 Tulare Health costs vs. California
| Item | Tulare | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $142.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $131.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Tulare Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Tulare | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Tulare Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Tulare | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $231.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $193.81 | $192.25 |
Tulare SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Tulare
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Tulare. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Visalia, CA has a cost of living index of 120, 1.0x Tulare.
Porterville, CA has a cost of living index of 113, 1.0x Tulare.
Hanford, CA has a cost of living index of 118, 1.0x Tulare.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Tulare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visalia, CA | 143,939 | 120 | 1.0x |
| Porterville, CA | 63,157 | 113 | 1.0x |
| Hanford, CA | 59,754 | 118 | 1.0x |
| Corcoran, CA | 22,491 | 106 | 0.9x |
| Lindsay, CA | 12,643 | 110 | 1.0x |
| Farmersville, CA | 10,397 | 113 | 1.0x |
| Exeter, CA | 10,258 | 120 | 1.0x |
| Woodlake, CA | 7,702 | 112 | 1.0x |
| Goshen, CA | 5,136 | 118 | 1.0x |
