Cost of Living in Clearlake, CA
Cost of Living in Clearlake, CA has an overall index of 84, 16% below the U.S. baseline of 100. The typical home value is $204,500; typical monthly rent is $1,162; and median household income is $41,580.
Cost index: committed city housing/rent inputs and BEA 2024 state nonmetro price parities. Home value: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. Rent: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. A place-level signal, not a personal affordability decision or financial recommendation.
Rent and home prices are comparatively balanced with local income. This describes the local market, not your household.
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Frequently asked questions about Clearlake
Living in Clearlake
Is Clearlake, CA an affordable place to live?+
Yes — everyday expenses in Clearlake run about 16% below the US average (Cost Index: 84). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $204,500, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is $1,162, versus $1,348 nationally.
How does Clearlake fit a household housing budget?+
Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,162, while local median household income is $41,580. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 34% before utilities and other costs. Use that as a planning signal for whether the place looks manageable under your own household assumptions.
How much are taxes in Clearlake, CA?+
California uses a progressive model; 13.3% is top marginal-rate context. Applying the 0.71% state-level effective owner-occupied proxy to a home worth $204,500 gives a planning estimate near $1,452 per year; it is not a city, county, parcel, or individual tax bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is around 8.85%.
How much does it cost to rent in Clearlake, CA?+
The typical monthly rent in Clearlake is around $1,162. That's roughly 14% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $204,500, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.
How much does a house cost in Clearlake, CA?+
The typical home value in Clearlake is $204,500. With 20% down and the committed 6.11% national 30-year fixed benchmark as of 2026-03-12, principal and interest are roughly $992/month before property tax and insurance. This is a planning estimate, not a local lender quote. About 58% of residents here own their homes.
Are groceries and utilities expensive in Clearlake?+
Grocery prices in Clearlake are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.
What is Clearlake, CA like to live in?+
Clearlake is a small town with a population of about 16,604. The median age of residents is 35.8, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 25.43%, above the national average of 12.4%.