Cost of living index
Modesto, CA
104.1 / 100
Living in Modesto, CA is 4.1% more expensive than the US average.
Overall prices
104.1
Housing / rent
108.5
vs US average
+4.1%
What it costs to live in Modesto, CA
Modesto, CA has an overall price level of 104.1 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 4.1% higher than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 108.5 it is 8.5% above the national average. Because rent and mortgage payments are the biggest line in most household budgets, that housing figure is usually what you’ll feel most when you move here.
Common questions
Is Modesto, CA an expensive place to live?
Modesto, CA has an overall cost-of-living index of 104.1, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 4.1% more expensive than the country as a whole.
Is housing expensive in Modesto, CA?
Housing in Modesto, CA scores 108.5 against a US average of 100 — roughly 8.5% above average. Housing is usually the largest single cost, so it drives most of the overall difference.
How does Modesto, CA compare to the US average cost of living?
Overall prices in Modesto, CA sit at 104.1 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 108.5. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.