California, MD Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In California, MD Summary
Cost of living in California 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 California is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Maryland, 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 California is 125, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in California is 1.2x higher than the national average.
California ranks as the #87 cheapest in Maryland out of 194.
California ranks as the #4,715 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in California is $392,947.
The median income in California is $112,717.
Table Of Contents
California's Overall Cost Of Living
Higher Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in California, MD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, California has an overall cost of living index of 125, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maryland, California has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Maryland's index of 121.
The standard of living in California ranks as #87 most affordable out of the 194 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies California ranks as the #107 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in California, check out:
In Maryland
In America
California Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in California. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in California is 111.
The Groceries index in California is 115.
The Health index in California is 109.
The Housing index in California is 160.
The Transportation index in California is 112.
The Utilities index in California is 101.
| Living Expense | California | Maryland | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 125 | 121 | 100 | |
| Services | 111 | 105 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 115 | 107 | 100 | |
| Health | 109 | 96 | 100 | |
| Housing | 160 | 150 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 112 | 99 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 101 | 113 | 100 | |
California, MD Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Maryland, 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 California is $392,947.
The Median Rent in California is $1,805.
The Median Income in California is $112,717.
The Home Value To Income in California is 3.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in California is 0.19x.
| Statistic | California | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $392,947 | $427,628 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,805 | $1,662 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $112,717 | $101,652 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.5x | 4.2x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
California, MD Costs By Category
Detailed California Services Costs Vs. Maryland
| Item | California | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.34 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.08 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.34 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.51 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $47.63 | $45.56 |
Detailed California Groceries Costs Vs. Maryland
| Item | California | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.08 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.68 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.3 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.83 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.62 | $3.7 |
Detailed California Health Costs Vs. Maryland
| Item | California | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $120.12 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $135.82 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $98.77 | $113.29 |
Detailed California Transportation Costs Vs. Maryland
| Item | California | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.34 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.7 | $59.92 |
Detailed California Utilities Costs Vs. Maryland
| Item | California | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $213.29 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.83 | $192.25 |
California SnackAbility
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Cost Of Living In Cities Around California
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around California. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Alexandria, VA has a cost of living index of 158, 1.3x California.
Bowie, MD has a cost of living index of 134, 1.1x California.
Franconia, VA has a cost of living index of 143, 1.1x California.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. California |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, VA | 156,788 | 158 | 1.3x |
| Bowie, MD | 57,771 | 134 | 1.1x |
| Franconia, VA | 18,141 | 143 | 1.1x |
| Kingstowne, VA | 17,436 | 151 | 1.2x |
| Fort Hunt, VA | 16,519 | 188 | 1.5x |
| Bensville, MD | 14,792 | 144 | 1.2x |
| Newington, VA | 13,824 | 150 | 1.2x |
| Lexington Park, MD | 13,419 | 113 | 0.9x |
| Annapolis Neck, MD | 12,484 | 164 | 1.3x |
| Mitchellville, MD | 11,325 | 139 | 1.1x |
