Arcata, CA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Arcata, CA Summary

Cost of living in Arcata 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 Arcata is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in California, 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 Arcata is 126, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Arcata is 1.3x higher than the national average.

  • Arcata ranks as the #242 cheapest in California out of 635.

  • Arcata ranks as the #5,091 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Arcata is $364,100.

  • The median income in Arcata is $39,069.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
126
Arcata's Overall Cost Of Living
1.3x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Arcata, CA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Arcata has an overall cost of living index of 126, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to California, Arcata has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than California's index of 139.

The standard of living in Arcata ranks as #242 most affordable out of the 635 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Arcata ranks as the #393 most expensive place in the Golden State.

For more reading on life in Arcata, check out:

242 out of 635
In California
5,091 out of 6,412
In America

Arcata Cost Of Living Vs. California

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Arcata. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Arcata is 117.

  • The Groceries index in Arcata is 106.

  • The Health index in Arcata is 122.

  • The Housing index in Arcata is 150.

  • The Transportation index in Arcata is 135.

  • The Utilities index in Arcata is 107.

Living Expense Arcata California National Average
Overall 126 139 100
Services 117 110 100
Groceries 106 112 100
Health 122 109 100
Housing 150 204 100
Transportation 135 126 100
Utilities 107 124 100
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Arcata Cost of Living Vs. CA

Arcata, CA Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Arcata is $364,100.

  • The Median Rent in Arcata is $1,169.

  • The Median Income in Arcata is $39,069.

  • The Home Value To Income in Arcata is 9.3x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Arcata is 0.36x.

Statistic Arcata California United States
Median Home Value $364,100 $573,200 $244,900
Median Rent $1,169 $1,698 $1,163
Median Income $39,069 $84,097 $69,021
Home Value To Income 9.3x 6.8x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.36x 0.24x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Arcata, CA
$364,100
Median Home Value
$1,169
Median Rent
$39,069
Median Income

Arcata, CA Costs By Category

Detailed Arcata Services Costs Vs. California

Item Arcata California
Shampoo $1.24 $1.06
Movie $13.93 $10.68
Bowling $20.08 $14.67
Haircut $24.02 $18.62
Beauty Salon $62.28 $39.05

Detailed Arcata Groceries Costs Vs. California

Item Arcata California
Ground Beef $5.05 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.31 $1.39
Milk $2.66 $2.05
Potatoes $3.2 $3.29
Pizza $17.03 $10.62
Beer $9.52 $9.38
Toothpaste $2.79 $2.34

Detailed Arcata Health Costs Vs. California

Item Arcata California
Optometrist $148.5 $108.57
Doctor $194.75 $116.17
Dentist $94.8 $99.13

Detailed Arcata Transportation Costs Vs. California

Item Arcata California
Gasoline $3.24 $2.22
Tire Balancing $51.87 $50.07

Detailed Arcata Utilities Costs Vs. California

Item Arcata California
All Electricity $192.37 $167.67
Phone $186.51 $175.64

Arcata SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
3/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
2
Diversity
8.5
Safety
4
Amenities
8.5
Education
8.5
Commute
9

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Arcata

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Arcata. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Eureka, CA has a cost of living index of 115, 0.9x Arcata.

  • Trinity, FL has a cost of living index of 116, 0.9x Arcata.

  • McKinleyville, CA has a cost of living index of 123, 1.0x Arcata.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Arcata
Eureka, CA 26,763 115 0.9x
Trinity, FL 18,191 116 0.9x
McKinleyville, CA 16,457 123 1.0x
Fortuna, CA 12,480 119 0.9x

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