Cost of Living in Modesto, CA
Cost of Living in Modesto, CA has an overall index of 130, 30% above the U.S. baseline of 100. The typical home value is $440,861; typical monthly rent is $2,042; and median household income is $77,899.
Cost index: committed city housing/rent inputs and BEA 2024 metro-area price parities. Home value: Zillow ZHVI market signal as of 2026-02. Rent: Zillow ZORI market signal as of 2026-02. A place-level signal, not a personal affordability decision or financial recommendation.
Home prices are the main source of pressure. This describes the local market, not your household.
Can your household carry the housing cost?
Start with four decisions. Open advanced assumptions only when you need to replace the local defaults.
Enter your income and housing plan to see a household-specific estimate.
Compare Modesto with another place.
Search one destination and see which housing and local-cost categories change most.
Inspect the numbers when you need them.
Other California cities with a useful tradeoff.
Recommendations require usable housing and income data and exclude very small places for a city of this scale.
Frequently asked questions about Modesto
Living in Modesto
Is Modesto, CA an expensive place to live?+
Yes — Modesto is about 30% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 130. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $440,861, and monthly rents average roughly $2,042. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.
How does Modesto fit a household housing budget?+
Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $2,042, while local median household income is $77,899. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 31% 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 Modesto, 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 $440,861 gives a planning estimate near $3,130 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 Modesto, CA?+
The typical monthly rent in Modesto is around $2,042. That's about 51% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $440,861, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.
How much does a house cost in Modesto, CA?+
The typical home value in Modesto is $440,861. With 20% down and the committed 6.11% national 30-year fixed benchmark as of 2026-03-12, principal and interest are roughly $2,140/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 Modesto?+
Grocery prices in Modesto are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 105, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are on the high side (index: 152). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.
What is Modesto, CA like to live in?+
Modesto is a mid-sized city with a population of about 218,614. The median age of residents is 35.4, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 12.97%, near the national average of 12.4%.