Research / Most affordable ZIP codes
Most affordable ZIP codes in California
Ranked by the SkaldMaps Cost of Living Index, lowest first. 100 is about the national level; lower values indicate lower estimated costs.
How we rank lowest cost of living
The Cost of Living Index combines the local cost of everyday goods and services with the estimated cost of owning a typical listed home, including mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, and maintenance. These measures are combined and compared with a national baseline.
100 is about the national level. Below 100, a homebuyer's money goes further; above 100, it goes less far.
It reflects homes for sale today, not what current owners pay, so it needs listing data: ZIPs without enough listings are not ranked. It does not include income, so a low index does not mean local wages cover local costs.
Only ZIPs with at least 1,000 residents are ranked, so a handful of households cannot top the list. 1,336 California ZIPs qualify.
California ZIP codes ranked by lowest cost of living
1ZIP 92257Calipatria
California
- Cost of living index
- 69.8
- ZIP population
- ~2k
- Avg. temperature
- 73°F
- Avg. commute
- 34 min
2ZIP 93562Ridgecrest
California
- Cost of living index
- 72.1
- ZIP population
- ~2k
- Avg. temperature
- 68°F
- Avg. commute
- 21 min
3ZIP 93206Buttonwillow
California
- Cost of living index
- 80.3
- ZIP population
- ~2k
- Avg. temperature
- 65°F
- Avg. commute
- 28 min
4ZIP 93516Boron
California
- Cost of living index
- 81.5
- ZIP population
- ~3k
- Avg. temperature
- 64°F
- Avg. commute
- 23 min
5ZIP 93721Fresno
California
- Cost of living index
- 81.9
- ZIP population
- ~7k
- Avg. temperature
- 66°F
- Avg. commute
- 19 min
6ZIP 93283Weldon
California
- Cost of living index
- 82.8
- ZIP population
- ~2k
- Avg. temperature
- 61°F
- Avg. commute
- 19 min
| Rank | ZIP | City | County | Cost of living index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #7 | 93527 | Inyokern | Kern County | 83.1 |
| #8 | 92281 | Westmorland | Imperial County | 84.8 |
| #9 | 96013 | Burney | Shasta County | 86.2 |
| #10 | 93501 | Mojave | Kern County | 86.5 |
| #11 | 92363 | Needles | San Bernardino County | 86.6 |
| #12 | 93268 | Taft | Kern County | 86.7 |
| #13 | 92398 | Yermo | San Bernardino County | 87.2 |
| #14 | 93523 | Edwards | Kern County | 87.3 |
| #15 | 95968 | Palermo | Butte County | 87.4 |
| #16 | 93205 | Bodfish | Kern County | 87.7 |
| #17 | 93235 | Ivanhoe | Tulare County | 87.8 |
| #18 | 92225 | Blythe | Riverside County | 87.9 |
| #19 | 93219 | Earlimart | Tulare County | 88.8 |
| #20 | 93266 | Stratford | Kings County | 88.8 |
| #21 | 96101 | Alturas | Modoc County | 89.0 |
| #22 | 93285 | Wofford Heights | Kern County | 89.5 |
| #23 | 93252 | Maricopa | Kern County | 89.7 |
| #24 | 93223 | Farmersville | Tulare County | 89.9 |
| #25 | 93555 | Ridgecrest | Kern County | 89.9 |
Rank California by your own priorities
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More California research
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- California median ZIP
- 49.4
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
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Ranked by mean commute
- California median ZIP
- 27.9 min
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 20.6 min to 36.1 min
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Ranked by healthcare access score
- California median ZIP
- 96.6
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 85.4 to 99.1
Best broadband coverage
Ranked by households with broadband
- California median ZIP
- 93.5%
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 85.4% to 97.5%
Warmest ZIP codes
Ranked by avg. temperature
- California median ZIP
- 62.7°F
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 57.6°F to 65.4°F