Cost of living in 10 of California's major cities, ranked cheapest to most expensive

• It's more expensive to live in San Jose, California, than Bakersfield, California.
• The Council for Community and Economic Research looked at 274 urban areas for the second quarter of 2023.
• All 10 urban areas in California in the analysis had an index above the national average.

It can be expensive to reside in San Jose, California.

The Council for Community and Economic Research, or C2ER, publishes a quarterly Cost of Living Index for US urban areas. The composite index is based on local prices of healthcare, housing, and four other categories.