Cost of Living in the West Coast
California, Oregon, Washington & Hawaii
Photo: Craig Melville / UnsplashThe West Coast — California, Oregon, Washington & Hawaii — covers 12 cities we track across 4 states. Median one-bedroom rent across those cities is $1,661 — 31% higher than the $1,271 median across the 6 regions we track.
The cheapest city we track in the West Coast is Bakersfield, CA, at $1,007/mo for a one-bedroom; the priciest is San Francisco, CA, at $2,425/mo. Median household income across the region's tracked cities is $87,110, 20% higher than the $72,701 median across all regions.
Region Medians
Median 1BR Rent
$1,661
Median Home Value
$802,900
Median Income
$87,110
Medians across the 12 cities we track in the West Coast — not a population-weighted regional figure.
States in the West Coast
Cities in the West Coast
West Coast cost of living — FAQ
- Is the West Coast expensive to live in?
- The West Coast is among the most expensive of the 6 US regions we track. Its median one-bedroom rent of $1,661 ranks #1 of 6 and is 31% higher than the $1,271 median.
- What is the cheapest city to live in in the West Coast?
- Bakersfield, CA is the cheapest of the cities we track in the West Coast, with a one-bedroom rent of $1,007 a month.
- What is the most expensive city in the West Coast?
- San Francisco, CA is the priciest of the cities we track in the West Coast, with a one-bedroom rent of $2,425 a month.
- Which states are in the West Coast?
- We track cities in 4 states in the West Coast: California, Oregon, Washington & Hawaii.
Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).