countyscore

Cost of Living · California

Most Affordable Counties in California 2026

Ranked by housing affordability including median rent and home values.

Top 10 — Cost of Living in California

Score reflects cost of living only — not overall county quality.

1Modoc County, CA
65.6
2Trinity County, CA
50
3Siskiyou County, CA
29.8
4Del Norte County, CA
29.5
5Inyo County, CA
28.9
6Lassen County, CA
26.3
7Imperial County, CA
22
8Glenn County, CA
21.6
9Plumas County, CA
20.6
10Tehama County, CA
16.9

All California Counties — Cost of Living Rankings

58 counties ranked by cost of living score. Overall Score shown for context.

#CountyCost of Living ScoreOverall Score
1Modoc County, CA
65.6
48.9
2Trinity County, CA
50
46
3Siskiyou County, CA
29.8
37.1
4Del Norte County, CA
29.5
39
5Inyo County, CA
28.9
41
6Lassen County, CA
26.3
40.7
7Imperial County, CA
22
34.1
8Glenn County, CA
21.6
41.7
9Plumas County, CA
20.6
40.3
10Tehama County, CA
16.9
36.4
11Colusa County, CA
16
41.9
12Humboldt County, CA
15.1
39.8
13Lake County, CA
15.1
31.1
14Tulare County, CA
12.9
35.2
15Mariposa County, CA
12.8
44.8
16Mendocino County, CA
12.4
43.9
17Kern County, CA
11.7
27.8
18Merced County, CA
11.6
34.6
19Shasta County, CA
11.6
51.7
20Sierra County, CA
11.3
53
21Kings County, CA
11.1
37.7
22Butte County, CA
10.6
38.5
23Madera County, CA
9.7
35
24Tuolumne County, CA
9.7
41.8
25Fresno County, CA
9.4
32.7
26Yuba County, CA
9.3
37.4
27Sutter County, CA
8.8
35.6
28Amador County, CA
8.4
41.3
29Calaveras County, CA
6.6
42.3
30Stanislaus County, CA
6.2
35.1
31Alpine County, CA
3.8
48
32Nevada County, CA
3.8
44.8
33San Bernardino County, CA
3.8
33.4
34San Joaquin County, CA
3.8
32.9
35Mono County, CA
3.6
40.2
36Sacramento County, CA
3.6
38.2
37Yolo County, CA
3
37.6
38El Dorado County, CA
2.9
49.4
39Riverside County, CA
2.6
37.3
40Monterey County, CA
1.9
39.1
41San Luis Obispo County, CA
1.9
42.8
42Los Angeles County, CA
1.5
36.7
43Santa Barbara County, CA
1.5
43
44Placer County, CA
1.3
46.2
45Solano County, CA
1.3
35.9
46Sonoma County, CA
1.1
44.7
47Napa County, CA
1
43.3
48San Benito County, CA
0.9
42.9
49Santa Cruz County, CA
0.8
41
50Ventura County, CA
0.8
44.1
51San Diego County, CA
0.7
42.2
52Orange County, CA
0.5
44.1
53Alameda County, CA
0.3
40.1
54Contra Costa County, CA
0.3
39.8
55Marin County, CA
0.1
47.9
56San Francisco County, CA
0.1
42.7
57San Mateo County, CA
0.1
47.3
58Santa Clara County, CA
0.1
42.3

Explore More

Best overall counties in CaliforniaFull Cost of Living data on CostByCounty