Cost of living in Riverside: rent, homes and salary
The cost of living in Riverside is 6.4% higher than the US average. In 2024, the BEA regional price parity (RPP) was 106.4 for the Riverside, CA metro area, compared with 100 for the US, while housing stood at 129.3.
- Level of prices
- 106.4US = 100, BEA 2024
- Level of housing prices
- 129.3 for rents, US = 100.
Cost of living index for Riverside
One regional price parity shows how much the same goods and services cost in one place compared with the US average, which is set at 100. Riverside lies in a metro area known as the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA region, and BEA prices that whole metro area together. Utilities differ most from the US average, reaching 148.6 or 48.6% above the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Riverside, CA metro | California | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 106.4 | 110.7 | +6.4% |
| Goods | 101.4 | 106.1 | +1.4% |
| Housing (rents) | 129.3 | 154.3 | +29.3% |
| Utilities | 148.6 | 158.9 | +48.6% |
| Other services | 101.3 | 102.6 | +1.3% |
Regional price parities for 2024 came from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and cover metro areas and states. BEA price parity data
Riverside rental costs
Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) puts the typical asking rent in Riverside at $2,427 each month. This covers homes listed now and is +2.0% on a year. The US figure is $1,932. Census median gross rent is $2,060. This includes every renting household, not only households with new leases. Asking rent for one year equals 32% of median household income.
| Rent | Riverside | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $2,427 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +2.0% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $2,060 | $1,487 |
| Median income taken up by one year of asking rent | 32% | 28% |
Zillow Observed Rent Index; Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024, based on one-year estimates.
Riverside home prices
The Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) valued a typical Riverside home at $641,514 in September 2026. It measures the value of a home in the middle of the market. The annual change was +0.9%, compared with $366,157 for the US. The price equals 7.1 years of median household income, compared with 4.5 for the US.
| Home prices | Riverside | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $641,514 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | +0.9% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +81.9% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 7.1 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 22.0 | 15.8 |
Days on market, a forecast and the price chart since 2000: Riverside housing market.
The salary you need to live in Riverside
Your earnings and where you live determine the Riverside salary that buys what your pay buys now.
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Cost of living in Riverside compared with other cities
| City | Level of prices | Housing | The typical rent | Value of a typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside | 106.4 | 129.3 | $2,427 | $641,514 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| San Diego | 111.9 | 179.3 | $3,004 | $980,490 |
| San Jose | 110.4 | 211.9 | $3,582 | $1,353,869 |
| San Francisco | 115.6 | 194.7 | $4,784 | $1,441,021 |
| Fresno | 102.2 | 95.7 | $1,945 | $384,885 |
| Sacramento | 106.7 | 130.2 | $2,045 | $470,552 |
| Long Beach | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,412 | $852,391 |
| Oakland | 115.6 | 194.7 | $2,758 | $710,647 |
Price levels: BEA regional price parities for 2024, US = 100. Rent figures: Zillow ZORI. Home values: Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
Rankings for each city are in the cost of living comparison. Explore each state: cost of living by state.