California, PA Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In California, PA Summary

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

On a city-by-city basis in Pennsylvania, 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 California is 92, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in California is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • California ranks as the #69 cheapest in Pennsylvania out of 247.

  • California ranks as the #1,974 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in California is $117,800.

  • The median income in California is $42,879.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
92
California's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in California, PA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, California has an overall cost of living index of 92, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Pennsylvania, California has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 97.

The standard of living in California ranks as #69 most affordable out of the 247 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies California ranks as the #178 most expensive place in the Keystone State.

For more reading on life in California, check out:

69 out of 247
In Pennsylvania
1,974 out of 6,412
In America

California Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania

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

  • The Services index in California is 98.

  • The Groceries index in California is 110.

  • The Health index in California is 97.

  • The Housing index in California is 59.

  • The Transportation index in California is 119.

  • The Utilities index in California is 115.

Living Expense California Pennsylvania National Average
Overall 92 97 100
Services 98 99 100
Groceries 110 101 100
Health 97 97 100
Housing 59 85 100
Transportation 119 105 100
Utilities 115 106 100
For more reading on cost of living around Pennsylvania, check out:
California Cost of Living Vs. PA

California, PA Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Pennsylvania, 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 California is $117,800.

  • The Median Rent in California is $638.

  • The Median Income in California is $42,879.

  • The Home Value To Income in California is 2.7x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in California is 0.18x.

Statistic California Pennsylvania United States
Median Home Value $117,800 $197,300 $244,900
Median Rent $638 $1,013 $1,163
Median Income $42,879 $67,587 $69,021
Home Value To Income 2.7x 2.9x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.18x 0.18x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In California, PA
$117,800
Median Home Value
$638
Median Rent
$42,879
Median Income

California, PA Costs By Category

Detailed California Services Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item California Pennsylvania
Shampoo $1.16 $1.06
Movie $11.48 $10.68
Bowling $14.04 $14.67
Haircut $19.1 $18.62
Beauty Salon $34.18 $39.05

Detailed California Groceries Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item California Pennsylvania
Ground Beef $4.48 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.61 $1.39
Milk $2.03 $2.05
Potatoes $4.39 $3.29
Pizza $10.96 $10.62
Beer $9.92 $9.38
Toothpaste $2.19 $2.34

Detailed California Health Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item California Pennsylvania
Optometrist $90.39 $108.57
Doctor $93.55 $116.17
Dentist $102.37 $99.13

Detailed California Transportation Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item California Pennsylvania
Gasoline $2.55 $2.22
Tire Balancing $61.08 $50.07

Detailed California Utilities Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item California Pennsylvania
All Electricity $210.66 $167.67
Phone $190.57 $175.64

California SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
4/10
Housing
5
Affordability
6
Diversity
7
Safety
N/A
Amenities
6
Education
6
Commute
8.5

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:

  • Washington, PA has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x California.

  • Jefferson Hills, PA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.2x California.

  • Canonsburg, PA has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x California.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. California
Washington, PA 13,322 88 1.0x
Jefferson Hills, PA 12,215 106 1.2x
Canonsburg, PA 9,643 95 1.0x
Pleasant Hills, PA 8,454 100 1.1x
White Oak, PA 7,623 93 1.0x
Centerville, SC 7,276 88 1.0x
Connellsville, PA 7,092 84 0.9x
Monessen, PA 6,941 89 1.0x
Clairton, PA 6,245 86 0.9x

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