Cost of Living in California: Updated Prices, Comparison with Other States

California is the Golden State renowned for its abundance of natural beauty in the United States.  Additionally, it provides a high standard of living, frequently characterised by an active, outdoor lifestyle and plenty of employment options.  It’s difficult to make broad generalisations regarding the cost of living in California because it’s one of the biggest states in the US.

If you are deciding to relocate to California for higher education or a job, you should be aware of the current statistics on the cost of living in California. In this blog, we will discuss the average cost of living in Charlotte in detail along with rent and other essential expenses. Let us start discussing it directly without any delay.

Average Cost of Living in California Overview

Depending on where you reside, the cost of living might vary greatly. The average Cost of Living in California is around USD 1,340 without rent. However, the average rent in California ranges between USD 1700 and USD 3,500 and can vary according to a person’s budget and lifestyle.

The living expenses in California for a person depend on some essential factors, such as accommodation rent, meals and grocery prices, utility bills, recreation costs, local transport costs and a few others. Take an overview from the table below:

Cost of living Catagory	Average Cost
Total with rent	USD 2495
Utilities	USD 190
Food	USD 593
Transportation	USD 103

Here we explain some of these categories so you can get a quick idea about the costs of living in California, please have a look at these updated expenses:

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Cost of Housing Rent in California

Looking for housing in California is not for the weak of heart. California is considered one of the most habitable cities in the United States. However, the rent of an apartment in California depends on its surroundings and size.

The cost of housing renting can contribute to a considerable portion of the cost of living in California. You can comprehend the average housing rent in California inside and outside the city centre by looking at the table below:

Apartment	Location	Approx Monthly Cost
Single-Bedroom Apartment	City Centre	USD 2,464
Single-bedroom Apartment	Outside the Centre	USD 2,094
Three-bedrooms Apartment	City Centre	USD 4,642
Three-bedrooms Apartment	Outside the Centre	USD 3,717

Cost of Grocery in California

Grocery costs are primary and can affect the cost of living in California as preferences and quality may vary. For your amenity, the average price of groceries in California is shown in the table below:

Grocery Item	Approx Cost
Apples (1kg)	USD 5.90
Banana (1kg)	USD 2.32
Oranges (1kg)	USD 3.38
Tomato (1kg)	USD 4.84
Potato (1kg)	USD 3.08
Onion (1kg)	USD 2.40
Regular Milk (1 litre)	USD 1.20
Regular Eggs (12)	USD 4.91
Lettuce (1 head)	USD 2.07
Cheese (1kg)	USD 13.52
Rice (white), (1kg)	USD 5.71
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)	USD 5.15
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	USD 2.16

Cost of Clothing in California

The cost of clothing in California can vary significantly depending on the item and the brand. The Clothing costs reflect the relatively high living expenses in California, driven by factors such as the state’s high demand and cost of living, which influences retail prices across various categories, including apparel. For your reference, below we have outlined the average cost of Clothing in Charlotte:

Apparel Item	Average Cost
1 pair of jeans	USD 61
1 summer dress in a high street store	USD 46
1 pair of sports shoes	USD 100

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Cost of Transportation in California

Transportation costs in California are significantly higher than in other states, reflecting a combination of factors such as high fuel prices, extensive commute distances, and dependence on private vehicles due to limited public transportation options.

It is easy to get around California by public transportation such as buses, trains, cabs, etc. When thinking about budgeting, transportation costs are a significant part of the cost of living in California. For your reference, below we have outlined the average cost of transportation in California:

Item	Cost
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas	USD 1.35
Monthly ticket public transport	USD 125
Taxi trip starts from	USD 3.10
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	USD 1.75

Cost of Personal Care in California

The cost of personal care in California varies significantly based on the type of care required and the region within the state. Here’s a detailed look at the expenses you can expect for different personal care services in California:

Personal Care Item	Approx Cost
Cold medicine for 6 days (Tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands)	USD 9
1 box of antibiotics	USD16
Hair shampoo	USD 7
4 rolls of toilet paper	USD 5
Tube of toothpaste	USD 3
men’s haircut	USD 35

Tuition Fee In California 

The kind of institution you select will affect the price of tuition fees for universities in California. Prospective students need to research and compare tuition fees for their desired programs and universities in California.

However, the state of California not only has top-tier universities, but it also offers affordable living costs in California and a safe environment for all students. We bring you the average tuition fees at some prestigious universities in California. Please see the table below for your reference.

Name of University in California	Approx Tuition Fees
Stanford University	USD 62,484
California Institute of Technology	USD 63,255
University of California, Berkeley	USD 48,465
University of California, Los Angeles	USD 46,326
University of California, Davis	USD 46,043
University of California, San Diego	USD 48,630

Cost of Living in California VS National Average

The expense of housing is a significant contributor to California’s high cost of living. California has a median rent for a two-bedroom flat of USD 2,275, which is 50% more expensive than the national average. California has high housing costs as well, with a median home value of USD 750,000. Transportation, healthcare, and food costs are also higher in California. California has a 15% higher average petrol price per gallon (USD 5.70) than the rest of the country. California has greater healthcare costs as well, with an average yearly health insurance premium of USD 6,900.

It is 91 per cent more expensive in San Francisco than the national average, 22 per cent more expensive in Sacramento, and only 4 per cent more expensive in Bakersfield. However, in comparison to many other states in the nation, the cost of living in California, the Golden State is generally higher. The cost of living in California is broken down into the following key spending categories:

• Housing: 37.6% above the average nationally
• Transportation: 27.3% more expensive than the average nationally
• Food: 11.7% more expensive than the average in the country.
• Healthcare: 12.3% more expensive than the norm nationwide
• Utilities: 10.1% over the average nationally
• Additional: 9.7% over the national average

Cost of Living in California Compared to Other States

Compared to many other major metropolitan areas in the United States, the cost of living in California is high, and the costs of food, health care, and transportation are high there.

For your reference, we’ve given the cost of living in California compared to other cities like New York, Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, Minnesota, Indiana, New Jersey, Chicago, and Pennsylvania. So to give you an idea of ​​how affordable it is to live in California compared to other countries or cities. Please have a look at the average cost of living in other states (without rent):

Cost of living city-wise	Approx Costs	Comparison Cost of Living in California
Cost of Living in New York	USD 1,658	Higher than California
Cost of Living in Ohio	USD 1,196	Lower than California
Cost of Living in Michigan	USD 1,196	Lower than California
Cost of Living in North Carolina	USD 1,304	Lower than California
Cost of Living in Minnesota	USD 1,196	Lower than California
Cost of Living in Indiana	USD 1,260	Lower than California
Cost of Living in New Jersey	USD 1,000	Lower than California
Cost of Living in Chicago	USD 1,306	Lower than California
Cost of Living in Pennsylvania	USD 1,239	Lower than California

Why Study in California?

There are numerous benefits to thinking about studying in California along with the affordable cost of living in California. Here are a few examples:

Universities of international standing: Stanford, Berkeley, UCLA, and USC are just a few of the top universities in the world that can be found in California. These universities provide a wide range of academic programmes and are renowned for their challenging coursework and cutting-edge research.

Diverse culture: With residents from all over the world, California is a melting pot of civilizations. The food, music, art, and festivals of the state all reflect this diversity. Studying in California is a fantastic chance to get exposed to various cultures and viewpoints.

Beautiful scenery: From the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains to the palm-lined beaches of Southern California, California is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty. California is home to numerous national parks and forests that provide countless opportunities for outdoor leisure.

Opportunities for internships and employment: California is a significant economic centre, home to several firms and industries. This indicates that there are several options for students to obtain employment while they are still in school.

Wonderful weather: The Mediterranean climate of California features warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Students can therefore make use of the outdoors all year long.

Tips for Living in California 

There are a few strategies to reduce your living expenses in California. Below are some strategies:

• Living in a less costly city or town is one option.
• Living together as roommates is an additional option. 
• Additionally, you can save money by using public transit, biking instead of driving, and preparing meals at home rather than eating out.

While the cost of living in California may be higher than in some cities in the US. However, with careful budgeting and planning, expat students can enjoy a comfortable standard of living in California while taking advantage of the city’s amenities and opportunities.

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FAQs on Cost of Living in California

This was all about the Cost of living in California, if you are also planning to pursue a course from California reach out to Leverage Edu at 1800 57 2000, our study abroad experts will help you with the same