What is the cost of living in Waterford, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Waterford has an overall cost of living index of 125, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Waterford has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Waterford ranks as #132 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Waterford ranks as the #502 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Waterford, check out:
Waterford Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Waterford. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Waterford is 114.
The Groceries index in Waterford is 116.
The Health index in Waterford is 141.
The Housing index in Waterford is 113.
The Transportation index in Waterford is 119.
The Utilities index in Waterford is 125.
| Living Expense | Waterford | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 125 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 114 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 141 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 119 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 125 | 121 | 100 |
Waterford 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 Waterford Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Waterford, 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 Waterford is $429,372.
The Median Rent in Waterford is $1,620.
The Median Income in Waterford is $74,343.
The Home Value To Income in Waterford is 5.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Waterford is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Waterford | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $429,372 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,620 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $74,343 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.8x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Waterford, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Waterford Services costs vs. California
| Item | Waterford | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.56 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.64 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $23.78 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.83 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $76.57 | $45.56 |
Detailed Waterford Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Waterford | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.21 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.1 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.99 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.96 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.86 | $3.7 |
Detailed Waterford Health costs vs. California
| Item | Waterford | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $157.88 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $166.71 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $148.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Waterford Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Waterford | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.51 | $59.92 |
Detailed Waterford Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Waterford | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $299.78 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $191.56 | $192.25 |
Waterford SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Waterford
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Waterford. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Modesto, CA has a cost of living index of 128, 1.0x Waterford.
Turlock, CA has a cost of living index of 131, 1.0x Waterford.
Ceres, CA has a cost of living index of 126, 1.0x Waterford.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | 219,215 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Turlock, CA | 72,502 | 131 | 1.0x |
| Ceres, CA | 49,342 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Riverbank, CA | 25,166 | 132 | 1.1x |
| Oakdale, CA | 23,194 | 134 | 1.1x |
| Salida, CA | 13,900 | 136 | 1.1x |
| Delhi, CA | 11,009 | 122 | 1.0x |
| Hughson, CA | 7,648 | 136 | 1.1x |
| Escalon, CA | 7,451 | 146 | 1.2x |
| Keyes, CA | 5,577 | 116 | 0.9x |
