Vista, CA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Vista, CA Summary

Cost of living in Vista research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Vista is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in California, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Vista is 154, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Vista is 1.5x higher than the national average.

  • Vista ranks as the #340 cheapest in California out of 634.

  • Vista ranks as the #5,792 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Vista is $857,463.

  • The median income in Vista is $91,854.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
154
Vista's Overall Cost Of Living
1.5x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Vista, CA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Vista has an overall cost of living index of 154, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to California, Vista has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than California's index of 141.

The standard of living in Vista ranks as #340 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Vista ranks as the #294 most expensive place in the Golden State.

For more reading on life in Vista, check out:

340 out of 634
In California
5,792 out of 6,489
In America

Vista Cost Of Living Vs. California

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Vista. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Vista is 114.

  • The Groceries index in Vista is 117.

  • The Health index in Vista is 107.

  • The Housing index in Vista is 246.

  • The Transportation index in Vista is 125.

  • The Utilities index in Vista is 107.

Living Expense Vista California National Average
Overall 154 141 100
Services 114 110 100
Groceries 117 112 100
Health 107 110 100
Housing 246 195 100
Transportation 125 125 100
Utilities 107 128 100
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Vista Cost of Living Vs. CA

Vista, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Vista is $857,463.

  • The Median Rent in Vista is $2,148.

  • The Median Income in Vista is $91,854.

  • The Home Value To Income in Vista is 9.3x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Vista is 0.28x.

Statistic Vista California United States
Median Home Value $857,463 $763,287 $303,400
Median Rent $2,148 $1,956 $1,348
Median Income $91,854 $96,334 $78,538
Home Value To Income 9.3x 7.9x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.28x 0.24x 0.21x
$857,463
Median Home Value
$2,148
Median Rent
$91,854
Median Income

Vista, CA Costs By Category

Detailed Vista Services Costs Vs. California

Item Vista California
Shampoo $1.5 $1.28
Movie $16.89 $12.13
Bowling $24.67 $18
Haircut $26.92 $24.26
Beauty Salon $65.77 $45.56

Detailed Vista Groceries Costs Vs. California

Item Vista California
Ground Beef $5.47 $5.84
Fried Chicken $3.05 $1.57
Milk $4.98 $4.67
Potatoes $4.94 $4.93
Pizza $14.69 $12.09
Beer $11.25 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.73 $3.7

Detailed Vista Health Costs Vs. California

Item Vista California
Optometrist $138.66 $125.68
Doctor $132.5 $135.78
Dentist $121.37 $113.29

Detailed Vista Transportation Costs Vs. California

Item Vista California
Gasoline $4.68 $3.46
Tire Balancing $64.4 $59.92

Detailed Vista Utilities Costs Vs. California

Item Vista California
All Electricity $223.42 $193.99
Phone $180.31 $192.25

Vista SnackAbility

8
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
9.5
Affordability
3
Diversity
9
Safety
6
Amenities
10
Education
6
Commute
6

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Vista

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Vista. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Oceanside, CA has a cost of living index of 156, 1.0x Vista.

  • Escondido, CA has a cost of living index of 149, 1.0x Vista.

  • Carlsbad, CA has a cost of living index of 195, 1.3x Vista.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Vista
Oceanside, CA 172,542 156 1.0x
Escondido, CA 149,913 149 1.0x
Carlsbad, CA 114,500 195 1.3x
San Marcos, CA 94,078 162 1.1x
Encinitas, CA 61,585 214 1.4x
Poway, CA 48,515 176 1.1x
Fallbrook, CA 32,467 155 1.0x
Camp Pendleton South, CA 15,011 158 1.0x
Solana Beach, CA 12,841 254 1.6x
Valley Center, CA 10,303 166 1.1x

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