Housing
- One bedroom, city center
- Not listed
- One bedroom, suburbs
- Not listed
- Median home price
- $759,500
- Median rent
- $2,104
United States research
Retire in California
California is assessed here using official population, economic, cost, crime, temperature, and foreign-born population indicators. Conditions vary by county and city.
#49 OverallState ranking
56.3Cost index
At a glance
The state-level numbers worth checking before you compare cities.
Cost of living56.3/100Relative score; lower is cheaper
Safety34.9/100Safety index
HealthcareNot listedNo comparable statewide index retained
Average temperature15°CNOAA 1991–2020 baseline
Why California
A state is more than its tax rate. Start with the everyday tradeoffs.
Compare housing, healthcare access, safety, taxes, climate, and local services at city and county level before choosing a location.
What stands out
- Relative cost index: 56.3/100 (lower is cheaper)
- Safety index: 34.9/100
- NOAA temperature baseline: 15°C
- Foreign-born population share: 27.65% (ACS 2024 5-year)
Costs, taxes, and benefits
The state-level planning details most likely to affect your retirement budget.
Taxes
- State income tax
- Top marginal individual rate: 13.3% (2026)
- Retirement income
- Not listed
- Property tax
- Not listed
- Sales tax
- Not listed
Healthcare and residency
- Medicare acceptance
- Not listed
- Average healthcare cost
- Not listed
- Minimum stay
- Not listed
- Pension taxation
- Not listed
Safety, climate, and lifestyle
The quality-of-life details that vary most from one state to another.
Safety
- Safety index
- 34.9/100
- Violent crime
- 5.27 per 1,000
- Property crime
- 23.73 per 1,000
Climate risks
- Sunshine
- Not listed
- Hurricanes
- Not listed
- Wildfires
- Not listed
- Flooding
- Not listed
State profile
- Capital
- Sacramento
- Region
- West
- Population
- 39,355,309
- State parks
- Not listed
Cities to consider in California
Compare the local costs and character before choosing a region.
