Some of the cheapest places to live in California in 2024–2025 are inland, smaller cities where housing and overall cost of living are well below the state average. You trade off being near the coast, but you usually get more space, lower rents, and easier parking.

Cheapest larger cities

These are relatively affordable by California standards, with more amenities and jobs:

• Bakersfield (Kern County): Consistently listed among the cheapest larger cities; typical rents for 1–3 bedroom units are well under big-coastal-city levels, and housing prices are far below Los Angeles or Bay Area markets.

• Fresno (Central Valley): One of the main “cheap but still urban” options, with lower home prices and rents than most of the state while still offering transit, healthcare, and jobs.

• Redding (far north on I‑5): Lower housing costs than state average, access to healthcare and retail, and proximity to outdoor recreation.

Very low-cost small cities/towns

If you prioritize low rent over big-city amenities, these tend to be among the cheapest:

• Ridgecrest (High Desert): Identified as the single most affordable zip code in California, with median home values in the mid‑$200Ks and rent around the low‑$1,300s.

• Susanville (Sierra foothills): Frequently cited for under‑$1,000 rents on smaller homes and a generally low cost of living.

• Chico and Eureka (north state): Both have cost-of-living indices significantly below the state average, with Eureka also providing coastal access at a discount versus other beach towns.

Cheaper Southern California options

Closer to LA/SoCal but still more budget-friendly:

• San Bernardino (Inland Empire): Often ranked the cheapest major city in California, giving access to LA metro while keeping housing costs much lower.

• Hemet / San Jacinto (Riverside County): Inland retirement and bedroom communities with lower housing and rent than coastal SoCal, popular with cost-conscious residents.

• Yucca Valley / Barstow / Hesperia (High Desert): Desert towns with some of the lowest rents in Southern California, especially for small apartments or manufactured homes.

Relatively cheap coastal options

If you really want to be near the ocean but still save:

• Oxnard (Ventura County): One of the cheapest coastal cities in California; inland neighborhoods away from the beach have far more attainable rents and home prices than LA or Santa Barbara.

• Eureka (Humboldt County): Northern coastal city with home values and rents well below the statewide average, plus outdoor recreation and a slower pace of life.

How to pick the best spot

When comparing these “cheap” areas, focus on:

• Commute and jobs: Check whether your industry has opportunities nearby or whether remote work is viable. Many of these towns have smaller job markets.

• Safety and amenities: Compare neighborhood-level crime data, school ratings, and access to hospitals and supermarkets, since these vary a lot even within the same city.

• Current rents: Use up-to-date rental sites to search “California” then sort by lowest price, and cross-check in cities like Bakersfield, Fresno, Ridgecrest, and San Bernardino to see where you get the best deal for your budget.

If you share your budget (rent range) and whether you need coastal access, big-city amenities, or are okay with small towns, a more tailored short list can be suggested.