Let’s face it. We’ve been well aware of how expensive it is to live in Northern California for some time now. However, seeing the numbers laid out like this really puts it into perspective for us. A website called HowMuch published some horrifying infographics which have confirmed our long-held suspicions: Living in Northern California costs an ungodly amount of money. Seeing these stats will probably make you cringe but keep reading to see exactly how out of control the cost of living in Northern California is and the state as a whole.

HowMuch
The high cost of living in Northern California is definitely not news to us, but you might be surprised when you see the actual numbers of how much you need to make to live in this state. To live comfortably and afford a home that costs $499,900, you'll need an average annual income of around $120,120. If that sounds outrageous, it's because it is!
HowMuch
Most other states require an average annual income of $40k to $70k. In comparison to the rest of the country, HowMuch ranks California as the third most expensive place to live, just behind Washington D.C. and Hawaii. This can be contributed mainly to the fact that there simply isn't enough available inventory for the high demand for housing our state is currently experiencing. We can't say we're surprised by that data, but it's sad to see nonetheless.
HowMuch
To put it into perspective, HowMuch compiled this infographic to show just how many hours the average person will need to work in order to afford a home mortgage in California. If you check out the Bay Area, you'll see that they estimate individuals will need to work an average of 107 hours per week to live in San Francisco. Oakland and San Jose aren't that much better with estimates of 83 and 74 hours needed per week respectively. Simply put, if you want to live in the Bay Area, you can pretty much say goodbye to your social life...or any kind of life outside of work.

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HowMuch
If you know you can't afford a mortgage in California, renting may seem like the best option. However, you might be taken aback when you see just how much money you need to make monthly in order to even do that. With an estimated monthly cost of $8,313, California is the second most expensive place to rent in the United States. Washington D.C. comes in first with a slightly higher estimate of $8,487.
HowMuch
There is a small flicker of hope for those looking to live in Northern California (or California in general). According to this chart, cost of utilities in our state are actually not all that bad—well, in comparison to the rest of the country, that is. The chart shows that Californians spend an average of $438 per month on utilities including electricity, natural gas, internet, cable, and water. The states with the highest cost of utilities are Hawaii ($730.86), Alaska ($527.96), Rhode Island ($521.98), Connecticut ($496.07), and New York ($477.31).
HowMuch
Thinking about raising a family in California? You might want to check out this infographic which highlights the cost of childcare in the state versus the cost of college tuition. California ranks pretty high, with an estimated cost of $16.5k for full-time, center-based childcare and $9.7k for annual tuition and fees at public college.
HowMuch
Without a doubt, California living is expensive. If you're thinking of living here, or you already live here, you might want to consider getting into the state's most profitable business: Machinery and Mechanical Appliances, which is valued at $26.8 billion.

What do you think about these infographics? Is the cost of living in Northern California high enough to scare you away from living there? Or do other factors play into your decision to call NorCal home?

We could all use a little pick-me-up after delving into that information, so be sure to check out our list of the 11 best places to live in Northern California and why. Because the Northern California cost of living shouldn’t deter you from enjoying this beautiful region.

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More to Explore

Cost of living in Northern California

Chris Muras | January 04, 2023

Is NorCal cheaper than SoCal?

You may or may not be surprised to learn that living in NorCal is cheaper than living in SoCal - as long as you leave out the Bay Area. When you include the San Francisco Bay area the cost of living skyrockets. In fact, the Bay Area is 55 percent more expensive than LA.

Which city in California has the lowest cost of living?

The California city with the lowest cost of living might just be Bakersfield. This lovely city a bit north of Los Angeles actually has a rather affordable (by California standards) median home price of $350,000. The cost of living in Bakersfield is 24 percent lower than the California average.

What is the nicest cheapest place to live in California?

Everyone knows California is an expensive place to live. However, not all cities in the state are equal when it comes to the cost of living there. It also depends on what areas you are comparing to. The cost of living in Northern California is much cheaper as long as you completely ignore the Bay Area. What that said, here are some nice and relatively cheap places to live in California:

Desert Edge, Riverside County, CA
Big River, San Bernardino County, CA
Needles, San Bernardino County, CA
Gerber, Tehama County, CA
Alturas, Modoc County, CA
Lake Isabella, Kern County, CA
Eureka, Humboldt County, CA
Redlands, San Bernardino County, CA
Oxnard, Ventura County, CA
Camarillo, Ventura County, CA

If you are looking for more picturesque small towns in Northern California to explore try these 15 lovely towns. Then plan a road trip through beautiful Northern California.

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