Overall
104.1
+4.1 above avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Modesto, CA
Cost-of-living indicators for Modesto, CA, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 104.1
- Overall RPP
- #35
- of 387 metros
- 108.5
- Rents RPP
- $96K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Modesto is more expensive than 91% of U.S. metros — an overall cost index of 104.1, 4.1% above the national average, led by services at 152.3.
- 104.1
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #35
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- top 9%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 108.5
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $96,054 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $104,108.
What the Numbers Mean for Modesto
Modesto ranks #35 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the top quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 104.1, Modesto, CA is 4.1% more expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Modesto's most and least expensive categories — services at 152.3 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $96,054 inside Modesto, while a household needs roughly $104,108 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 108.5 — 8.5% above the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Modesto's overall index has risen by 5.4 points, signaling tightening affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 105.2 and services at 152.3, meaning everyday spending in Modesto is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Modesto vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
104 Top 9% higher than 91% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Modesto cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
108.5 RPP
- Services
Services
152.3 RPP
- Overall
Overall
104.1 RPP
- Goods
Goods
105.2 RPP
What this shows Modesto's gap from the national average is led by services at 152.3. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Modesto's cost comes from
Metros near Modesto's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 105, rents 115). Modesto is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Modesto's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
105.2
+5.2 above avg
Services
152.3
+52.3 above avg
Rents
108.5
+8.5 above avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$104,108
in Modesto, CA purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$52,054
$75,000 nationally
$78,081
$125,000 nationally
$130,135
$150,000 nationally
$156,162
$200,000 nationally
$208,216
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending upward, increasing by 5.4 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.7 |
| 2009 | 102.5 |
| 2010 | 100.4 |
| 2011 | 101.8 |
| 2012 | 102.1 |
| 2013 | 100.7 |
| 2014 | 99.3 |
| 2015 | 98.6 |
| 2016 | 97.8 |
| 2017 | 99.9 |
| 2018 | 104.5 |
| 2019 | 104.6 |
| 2020 | 103.2 |
| 2021 | 103.0 |
| 2022 | 106.0 |
| 2023 | 105.1 |
| 2024 | 104.1 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Modesto, CA's index of 104.1.
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Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
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Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Modesto, CA? ▼
Modesto, CA has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 104.1, meaning it is 4.1% more expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 105.2, services at 152.3, and rents at 108.5. It ranks #35 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Modesto, CA to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $104,108 in Modesto, CA. Conversely, $100K earned in Modesto, CA has the purchasing power of $96,054 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Modesto, CA? ▼
Rents in Modesto, CA are indexed at 108.5, which is 8.5% above the national average. This is close to the U.S. average.
Is Modesto, CA getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Modesto, CA's overall cost index changed by +5.4 points (from 98.7 to 104.1). The cost of living has been trending upward.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Modesto, CA? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Corvallis, Yuba City, Wenatchee-East Wenatchee. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Modesto, CA's 104.1.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
