The cheapest place to live in California – the Central Valley’s Hanford – is still more expensive than 295 metropolitan areas across the US.
The pain:My trusty spreadsheet reviewed the . It gives us a snapshot of relative differences in the cost of living among 384 metropolitan areas across the nation in 2023 – including 26 from California. This inflation math is based on both price and spending swings, and is part of the Federal Reserve’s favorite inflation gauge – the “PCE” or Personal Consumption Expenditures rate.
The source:annual “price parity” report from the US Bureau of Economic AnalysisThe pinch
Hanford was California’s most affordable spot because its cost of living was 1.6% below the national norm — and it still ranked 89th highest nationally.
The cost savings in Hanford are housing expenses, which run 31% below the typical US metro, by this math. Its utility prices are 39% higher.
Pressure points
The next nine cheapest California places to live are a decidedly inland and central collection of less-populated metros. Clearly, these farm towns offer some Golden State cost relief.