Summary of The Cost of Living in California, United States
• The average monthly cost of living for a single person in California is $5,430.00 including rent, or $2,630.00 excluding rent.
• The average monthly cost of living for a couple (2 adults) in California is $7,227.00 including rent, or $4,427.00 excluding rent.
• The average monthly cost of living for a family of four (2 adults + 2 children) in California is $9,983.00 including rent, or $6,343.00 excluding rent.
• The average yearly cost of living in California ranges from $65,160.00 for a single person to $86,724.00 for a couple, and $119,796.00 for a family of four, including rent. Excluding rent, the yearly range is $31,560.00 for a single person to $53,124.00 for a couple, and $76,116.00 for a family of four.
• For budget-conscious living in California, baseline monthly expenses range from $2,825.00 for a single person to $3,810.00 for a couple, and $5,306.00 for a family of four, including rent. Excluding rent, the range is $1,325.00 for a single person to $2,310.00 for a couple, and $3,356.00 for a family of four.
• For comfortable/luxury living in California, estimated monthly expenses range from $9,590.00 for a single person to $12,808.00 for a couple, and $17,595.00 for a family of four, including rent. Excluding rent, the range is $5,090.00 for a single person to $8,308.00 for a couple, and $11,745.00 for a family of four.
• The average monthly salary for a person in California is $6,800.00, which is 158.6% more than the average monthly cost of living and 413.2% more than the budget cost of living for a single person, excluding rent.
Cost of Living Details
| Category | Subcategory | Description | Cost Range (Monthly) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly rent for your primary residence (apartments, houses, condos) | |||
| Monthly electricity bill | |||
| Monthly running water bill | |||
| Monthly broadband internet subscription with unlimited data and cable TV | |||
| Monthly gas and heating expenses | |||
| Monthly mobile phone plan with data and calling | |||
| Monthly food and grocery expenses | |||
| Monthly expenses for basic household supplies and personal hygiene items (toiletries, cleaning supplies, and paper products) | |||
| Monthly transportation costs (public transit, vehicle ownership, or ride-sharing) | |||
| Monthly expenses for movies, coffee, drinks, and social activities (excluding shopping & dining) | |||
| Monthly expenses for clothing, shoes, and accessories | |||
| Monthly health insurance cost | |||
| Monthly prescription medications and pharmacy expenses | |||
| Monthly doctor visits and dental care expenses | |||
| Monthly gym membership | |||
| Monthly expenses for laundry and housekeeping services | |||
| Monthly expenses for food and basic care per pet (grooming, veterinary visits, treats, and medications) | |||
| Monthly childcare and school fees | |||
| Total (selected items only) | |||
Expense Distribution
Salary Info
| Category | Subcategory | Description | Salary Range (Monthly) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salary | Salary | Monthly salary (full-time) |