California’s cheapest place to live in 2026 is a quaint alpine city less than 3 hours from L.A., where median home prices are just $325,000

Porterville is the cheapest city to live in California in 2026, with a median home price of $325,000 and median rent of $1,358, both well below state averages. Its overall cost of living is 12% lower than the state average, earning it the highest affordability score. Other affordable California cities include Fresno, Bakersfield, Tulare, Eureka, Visalia, Stockton, Chico, Sacramento, and Clovis.