"Californians are no strangers to compromise. Living here has long meant paying more for rent, mortgages, utilities, gas, child care - even groceries. Are you feeling the pinch? Share your story with KQED by leaving us a voicemail at 415-553-2115 or clicking hereMeanwhile, rents in California continue to outpace the nation, with real estate listings website Zillow reporting that a median one-bedroom goes for around $2,100 a month, 40% higher than the national average."
"For those who have stayed in California, many expenses have only gotten worse. Monthly payments for a newly purchased mid-tier home have climbed a whopping 74% from just under $3,200 in Jan. 2020 to more than $5,500 in Sept. 2025, according to the state's Legislative Analysts' Office. In exchange, we've been rewarded with breathtaking natural beauty, a robust economy and a vibrant cultural scene."
California residents face persistently high costs across rent, mortgages, utilities, gas, child care and groceries. Median one-bedroom rents are about $2,100 monthly, roughly 40% above the national average. Many households make painful trade-offs: sending children to stay elsewhere to avoid utility bills, considering leaving the country because of rising health insurance premiums, or postponing home purchases to afford day care. Monthly payments for a mid-tier home rose about 74%, from under $3,200 in January 2020 to over $5,500 by September 2025. The state continues to offer natural beauty, a strong economy and a vibrant cultural scene despite those costs.
Read at Kqed
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]