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 127, which is 1.3x 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 #89 most affordable out of the 195 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies California ranks as the #106 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in California, check out:
California Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in California. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in California is 107.
The Groceries index in California is 112.
The Health index in California is 159.
The Housing index in California is 112.
The Transportation index in California is 113.
The Utilities index in California is 113.
| Living Expense | California | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 127 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 159 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 109 | 100 |
California Cost Of Living Compared To Maryland Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Maryland, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in California Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in California is $395,835.
The Median Rent in California is $1,927.
The Median Income in California is $119,855.
The Home Value To Income in California is 3.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in California is 0.19x.
| Statistic | California | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $395,835 | $429,704 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,927 | $1,705 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $119,855 | $103,678 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.3x | 4.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
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
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 153, 1.2x California.
Bowie, MD has a cost of living index of 133, 1.0x California.
Kingstowne, VA has a cost of living index of 149, 1.2x California.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. California |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, VA | 156,976 | 153 | 1.2x |
| Bowie, MD | 57,926 | 133 | 1.0x |
| Kingstowne, VA | 18,360 | 149 | 1.2x |
| Franconia, VA | 18,335 | 140 | 1.1x |
| Fort Hunt, VA | 16,700 | 189 | 1.5x |
| Bensville, MD | 15,848 | 141 | 1.1x |
| Newington, VA | 13,478 | 145 | 1.1x |
| Lexington Park, MD | 13,252 | 111 | 0.9x |
| Annapolis Neck, MD | 12,032 | 168 | 1.3x |
| Mitchellville, MD | 11,359 | 137 | 1.1x |
