While it’s true that the Golden State is synonymous with expensive real estate and high home prices, there are still very small pockets of affordability. The cheapest places to live in California are like hidden gems in a state known for its high cost of living.
The key to finding these affordable areas in California is to compare home prices and rents to local incomes.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the ratio of home prices and rents to incomes across every place in California over 5,000 people. The fact of the matter is you’re gonna need to earn more in California to find a place to live.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 most affordable places to live in California
What is the cheapest place to live in California for 2026? The cheapest place to live in California is Blythe based on housing costs and incomes. Blythe is still expensive but cheaper than its California neighbors.
San Francisco and Los Angeles are not on this list if the most affordable cities in California.
Obviously.
Check out some more reading about California and the cheapest places in the country:
The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In California For 2026
/10
Population: 17,396
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 98
Median Income: $56,625
Median Home Price: $219,714
Median Rent: $938
Just East of San Diego, on the California/Arizona border, is our most affordable California city, Blythe.
This ‘Hub of Southern California’ is home to the greatest percentage of young folks concentrated into one city on our list. And if we’ve learned anything about Millenials, they know a good deal. We also know that age group probably wasn’t drawn to this affordable Riverside County city for their love of the desert, but to work at one of the largest cannabis facilities in North America: the Palo Verde Center.
What we’re confused by, however, is Blythe’s median income only topping out at $56,625???
More on Blythe: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 14,177
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 100
Median Income: $61,641
Median Home Price: $237,882
Median Rent: $902
Susanville should be on your radar if you’re looking for an affordable place to live in California. Housing costs are significantly lower than the state average, with a median home value of $237,882 and a median rent of $902.
But affordability is only one reason to consider Susanvilles as your next home. Located on the Susan River at an elevation of over 4,000 feet, this small city boasts stunning scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities. And despite its small size with a population of 14,177, there’s plenty to do in town, from exploring the Lassen National Forest to check out the local shops and restaurants.
More on Susanville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 6,548
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 101
Median Income: $53,299
Median Home Price: $264,001
Median Rent: $919
Calipatria, California’s third most affordable city, offers a California-sized economic haven with its “Californian low” $264,001 home prices and $919 resnts.
Located in Imperial County, 2+ hours east of San Diego near the Salton Sea, it’s understandable why the cost of living here is lower. Calipatria’s 101 cost of living index score is mainly due to low housing costs. For cheap things to do, consider Salvation Mountain or the Salton Sea Wildlife Refuge.
More on Calipatria: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 16,659
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $41,867
Median Home Price: $204,857
Median Rent: $1,240
Clearlake, located in Lake County about 2 hours northeast of Sacramento, is clearly one of the most affordable cities in California. You’ll be awash in cash as the city has an overall cost of living that is 26.8% lower than the California average.
Housing is particularly economical with the lowest median home value and a median rent within reach on average incomes. You can take the savings even further by doing activities on Clear Lake or hiking in Mendocino National Forest.
More on Clearlake: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 7,820
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $43,982
Median Home Price: $250,942
Median Rent: $987
Yreka is the county seat of Siskiyou County, California, United States, located in the Shasta Valley at 2,500 feet above sea level and covering about 10.1 sq mi area, of which most is land. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 7,765, reflecting an increase of 475 from the 7,290 counted in the 2000 Census. Yreka is home to the College of the Siskiyous, Klamath National Forest Interpretive Museum and the Siskiyou County Museum. Its gold mining heritage is commemorated by the high school team which uses a gold miner as their name and mascot.
More on Yreka: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 25,100
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 105
Median Income: $53,380
Median Home Price: $263,254
Median Rent: $1,091
Barstow is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 22,639 at the 2010 census. Barstow is located 55 miles north of San Bernardino.
More on Barstow: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 6,046
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 105
Median Income: $35,540
Median Home Price: $363,343
Median Rent: $1,192
Crescent City is the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Del Norte County, California. Named for the crescent-shaped stretch of sandy beach south of the city, Crescent City had a total population of 7,643 in the 2010 census, up from 4,006 in the 2000 census. The population includes inmates at Pelican Bay State Prison, also within the city limits, and the former census-designated place Crescent City North annexed to the city. The city is also the site of the Redwood National Park headquarters, as well as the historic Battery Point Light. Due to the richness of the local Pacific Ocean waters and the related catch, and ease of access, Crescent City Harbor serves as home port for numerous commercial fishing vessels.
More on Crescent City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 27,355
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 106
Median Income: $62,554
Median Home Price: $249,326
Median Rent: $1,352
Twentynine Palms is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It was previously called Twenty-Nine Palms.
More on Twentynine Palms: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 22,491
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 106
Median Income: $59,905
Median Home Price: $268,556
Median Rent: $1,160
Corcoran is located in Kings County within the Hanford-Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area – a true inland marvel an hour south of Fresno. It stands out for its $ 268,556 median home price that makes homeownership attainable in California and a $1,160 rent.
Affordable things around Corcoran include a day trip to Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park or an afternoon at Corcoran Community Park. Either way, you’ll spend less on groceries, services, and transportation than in other parts of the state.
More on Corcoran: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 13,608
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 106
Median Income: $54,741
Median Home Price: $257,256
Median Rent: $1,015
Another low cost of living city in California is Avenal — the tenth most affordable city in California for 2026. The city has an overall cost of living that is more than 30% cheaper than the California average. Like most places on this list, that is driven by low housing costs, even for an expensive state like California. The median home price sits at $257,256, the eighth lowest mark in the state. Rents are equally cheap. You can score a rental for a median price of $1,015 per month.
Some of the major employers in town include the Avenal State Prison and Paramount Farms. This makes sense as agriculture serves as the main driver of the economy. The local farmers market is one of the town’s bigger attractions where we know you can find moderately priced produce.
More on Avenal: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Cheapest places to live in California FAQs
The county in California with the lowest cost of living is San Joaquin County. The average living wage in San Joaquin County is $101,058 according to MIT data. San Joaquin County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to California as a whole. Childcare costs $19,292 a year in San Joaquin County for two children compared to the California average of $22,259. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $15,240 per year in San Joaquin County compared to $23,682 on average in California.
The cost of living in California is 27.1% higher than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in California is $114,059 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a California household is $78,672.
The cheapest housing market in California is Clearlake. The average home value in Clearlake is $124,400, the lowest in the state. The average home value in California is $538,500, almost 4.3 times higher than Clearlake.
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The county in California with the lowest cost of living is San Joaquin County. The average living wage in San Joaquin County is $101,058 according to MIT data. San Joaquin County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to California as a whole. Childcare costs $19,292 a year in San Joaquin County for two children compared to the California average of $22,259. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $15,240 per year in San Joaquin County compared to $23,682 on average in California.
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The cost of living in California is 27.1% higher than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in California is $114,059 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a California household is $78,672.
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The cheapest housing market in California is Clearlake. The average home value in Clearlake is $124,400, the lowest in the state. The average home value in California is $538,500, almost 4.3 times higher than Clearlake.
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Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Golden State for 2026
Determining affordability for places in California boils down to how much it costs to live here.
You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.
With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 for California using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Services
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Utilities
These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.
We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in California to figure out which is the least expensive.
The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 428 places in California that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.
The place in California with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Blythe.
We updated this article for 2026. This report reflects our eleventh time ranking the cheapest places to live in California.
California Affordabilility Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in California for 2026, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in California.
The cheapest cities in California are Blythe, Susanville, Calipatria, Clearlake, Yreka, Barstow, Crescent City, Twentynine Palms, Corcoran, and Avenal.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in California according to the data:
- Piedmont
- Hillsborough
- Atherton
For more California reading, check out:
- Most Dangerous Cities In California
- Best Places To Buy A House In California
- Best Places To Live In California
Cheapest Places To Live In California
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blythe | 17,396 | 98 | $56,625 | $219,714 | $938 |
| 2 | Susanville | 14,177 | 100 | $61,641 | $237,882 | $902 |
| 3 | Calipatria | 6,548 | 101 | $53,299 | $264,001 | $919 |
| 4 | Clearlake | 16,659 | 104 | $41,867 | $204,857 | $1,240 |
| 5 | Yreka | 7,820 | 104 | $43,982 | $250,942 | $987 |
| 6 | Barstow | 25,100 | 105 | $53,380 | $263,254 | $1,091 |
| 7 | Crescent City | 6,046 | 105 | $35,540 | $363,343 | $1,192 |
| 8 | Twentynine Palms | 27,355 | 106 | $62,554 | $249,326 | $1,352 |
| 9 | Corcoran | 22,491 | 106 | $59,905 | $268,556 | $1,160 |
| 10 | Avenal | 13,608 | 106 | $54,741 | $257,256 | $1,015 |
| 11 | Huron | 6,519 | 107 | $52,500 | $246,747 | $1,054 |
| 12 | Mendota | 12,577 | 108 | $50,342 | $328,004 | $1,042 |
| 13 | Firebaugh | 8,392 | 109 | $47,734 | $336,353 | $982 |
| 14 | Holtville | 5,617 | 109 | $65,039 | $353,221 | $861 |
| 15 | California City | 14,414 | 110 | $60,113 | $276,562 | $1,300 |
| 16 | Lindsay | 12,643 | 110 | $53,201 | $312,571 | $1,009 |
| 17 | Orange Cove | 9,695 | 110 | $46,629 | $299,867 | $1,103 |
| 18 | El Centro | 44,240 | 111 | $53,082 | $387,050 | $1,052 |
| 19 | Wasco | 26,558 | 111 | $51,727 | $317,360 | $1,089 |
| 20 | Arvin | 19,539 | 111 | $49,183 | $296,901 | $1,122 |
| 21 | Coalinga | 17,203 | 111 | $75,451 | $294,653 | $1,093 |
| 22 | Red Bluff | 14,549 | 111 | $51,529 | $311,879 | $1,121 |
| 23 | Parlier | 14,507 | 111 | $52,357 | $331,193 | $1,105 |
| 24 | Ridgecrest | 28,225 | 112 | $89,250 | $269,057 | $1,186 |
| 25 | Oroville | 19,752 | 112 | $52,270 | $307,295 | $1,093 |
| 26 | McFarland | 14,222 | 112 | $54,608 | $287,502 | $1,131 |
| 27 | Corning | 8,155 | 112 | $56,627 | $297,404 | $961 |
| 28 | Woodlake | 7,702 | 112 | $46,266 | $332,363 | $968 |
| 29 | Taft | 7,125 | 112 | $72,772 | $205,745 | $1,069 |
| 30 | Porterville | 63,157 | 113 | $60,461 | $326,954 | $1,148 |
| 31 | Calexico | 38,585 | 113 | $49,783 | $391,299 | $1,093 |
| 32 | Brawley | 27,283 | 113 | $59,311 | $356,766 | $988 |
| 33 | Shafter | 21,193 | 113 | $71,215 | $382,593 | $1,253 |
| 34 | Chowchilla | 19,020 | 113 | $66,514 | $393,599 | $1,178 |
| 35 | Farmersville | 10,397 | 113 | $60,804 | $288,212 | $1,114 |
| 36 | Yucca Valley | 21,770 | 114 | $59,563 | $358,163 | $1,428 |
| 37 | Tulare | 70,945 | 115 | $72,410 | $353,915 | $1,435 |
| 38 | Delano | 51,679 | 115 | $67,010 | $335,057 | $1,199 |
| 39 | Reedley | 25,609 | 115 | $63,307 | $390,765 | $1,288 |
| 40 | Gridley | 7,330 | 115 | $57,974 | $352,299 | $1,176 |
| 41 | Willows | 6,190 | 115 | $64,068 | $315,948 | $1,237 |
| 42 | Coachella | 43,307 | 116 | $68,596 | $432,915 | $1,144 |
| 43 | Desert Hot Springs | 33,200 | 116 | $52,761 | $377,729 | $1,412 |
| 44 | Selma | 24,659 | 116 | $60,241 | $362,733 | $1,232 |
| 45 | Marysville | 12,726 | 116 | $56,430 | $393,130 | $1,295 |
| 46 | Anderson | 11,255 | 116 | $47,375 | $338,059 | $962 |
| 47 | Adelanto | 37,964 | 117 | $68,685 | $397,443 | $1,437 |
| 48 | Tehachapi | 11,946 | 117 | $72,957 | $424,155 | $1,295 |
| 49 | Shasta Lake | 10,311 | 117 | $67,401 | $297,948 | $1,298 |
| 50 | Orland | 8,357 | 117 | $64,945 | $394,399 | $1,146 |
| 51 | Hanford | 59,754 | 118 | $76,461 | $382,152 | $1,309 |
| 52 | Lemoore | 27,102 | 118 | $83,724 | $382,910 | $1,555 |
| 53 | Madera | 67,831 | 119 | $63,933 | $423,813 | $1,353 |
| 54 | Atwater | 32,162 | 119 | $64,472 | $422,470 | $1,279 |
| 55 | Banning | 31,093 | 119 | $61,764 | $414,128 | $1,650 |
| 56 | Dinuba | 25,475 | 119 | $59,484 | $354,576 | $1,209 |
| 57 | Imperial | 21,430 | 119 | $90,195 | $437,251 | $1,255 |
| 58 | Livingston | 14,606 | 119 | $74,494 | $426,445 | $1,315 |
| 59 | Live Oak | 9,347 | 119 | $73,571 | $392,216 | $1,014 |
| 60 | Colusa | 6,505 | 119 | $71,250 | $366,115 | $1,132 |
| 61 | Gustine | 6,133 | 119 | $59,532 | $423,281 | $1,395 |
| 62 | Dos Palos | 5,765 | 119 | $42,367 | $358,919 | $1,125 |
| 63 | Visalia | 143,939 | 120 | $81,989 | $396,183 | $1,490 |
| 64 | Hemet | 91,326 | 120 | $57,719 | $444,333 | $1,575 |
| 65 | Exeter | 10,258 | 120 | $75,769 | $388,257 | $1,286 |
| 66 | Victorville | 137,627 | 121 | $74,410 | $436,008 | $1,618 |
| 67 | Merced | 91,953 | 121 | $63,122 | $397,875 | $1,393 |
| 68 | Sanger | 26,699 | 121 | $77,500 | $412,062 | $1,209 |
| 69 | Williams | 5,585 | 121 | $90,761 | $376,328 | $1,184 |
| 70 | Fresno | 545,970 | 122 | $70,991 | $391,328 | $1,421 |
| 71 | San Jacinto | 55,180 | 122 | $80,647 | $482,811 | $1,615 |
| 72 | Eureka | 26,010 | 122 | $57,662 | $410,992 | $1,195 |
| 73 | Kerman | 16,815 | 122 | $59,799 | $415,639 | $1,223 |
| 74 | Newman | 12,316 | 122 | $78,906 | $438,319 | $1,420 |
| 75 | Hesperia | 100,775 | 123 | $72,160 | $460,686 | $1,590 |
| 76 | Apple Valley | 75,473 | 123 | $69,882 | $432,342 | $1,444 |
| 77 | Fowler | 7,094 | 123 | $66,983 | $470,310 | $1,218 |
| 78 | Lakeport | 5,113 | 123 | $68,518 | $354,202 | $1,063 |
| 79 | Jackson | 5,048 | 123 | $70,239 | $433,491 | $1,429 |
| 80 | Bakersfield | 411,986 | 124 | $80,540 | $396,047 | $1,472 |
| 81 | Redding | 93,409 | 124 | $70,466 | $388,869 | $1,379 |
| 82 | Kingsburg | 12,755 | 124 | $76,913 | $475,599 | $1,277 |
| 83 | Calimesa | 10,902 | 124 | $87,181 | $566,184 | $1,783 |
| 84 | San Bernardino | 222,724 | 125 | $67,415 | $487,988 | $1,508 |
| 85 | Colton | 53,772 | 125 | $71,208 | $493,149 | $1,661 |
| 86 | King City | 13,604 | 125 | $66,761 | $526,055 | $1,534 |
| 87 | Waterford | 9,204 | 125 | $74,343 | $429,372 | $1,620 |
| 88 | Paradise | 7,392 | 125 | $67,687 | $334,278 | $1,241 |
| 89 | Stockton | 322,326 | 126 | $79,907 | $431,328 | $1,577 |
| 90 | Ceres | 49,342 | 126 | $79,025 | $454,823 | $1,639 |
| 91 | Fortuna | 12,326 | 126 | $62,289 | $414,815 | $1,168 |
| 92 | Lancaster | 169,169 | 127 | $81,511 | $465,846 | $1,764 |
| 93 | Cathedral City | 52,267 | 127 | $73,572 | $483,430 | $1,601 |
| 94 | Los Banos | 47,593 | 127 | $68,171 | $462,222 | $1,557 |
| 95 | Modesto | 219,215 | 128 | $79,891 | $446,493 | $1,690 |
| 96 | Indio | 91,950 | 128 | $77,167 | $517,774 | $1,437 |
| 97 | Yuba City | 69,471 | 129 | $75,477 | $442,903 | $1,454 |
| 98 | Lompoc | 43,646 | 129 | $72,004 | $590,685 | $1,589 |
| 99 | Clovis | 124,725 | 130 | $99,241 | $521,708 | $1,792 |
| 100 | South Lake Tahoe | 21,269 | 130 | $82,002 | $653,680 | $1,606 |