9 Most Affordable California Cities With the Best Weather Year-Round
Not all California cities require a six-figure income for a comfortable lifestyle. Key findings from a recent MoneyLion study revealed there are nine California cities where the total cost of living is less than $60,000 annually. The weather is also known for its year-round excellence, whether you choose to live in sunny Bakersfield or prefer the cooler climate Eureka offers in Northern California.
We pulled these cities from an existing study on America’s most affordable cities with great weather. This analysis examined each location’s median household income, annual cost of living and average home value.
Find Out: How Much House Can You Really Afford? The Answer May Shock You
Act Now: Start Growing Your Net Worth With Smarter Tracking
See which nine California cities are best to live in for affordability and fantastic weather, ranked from most to least expensive. And don’t forget to check out our in-depth examination into America’s 50 most affordable cities with wonderful weather.
1. Stockton
Median household income: $79,907
Average home value: $437,180
Total cost of living (annually): $56,493
Livability: 59
2. Imperial
Median household income: $90,195
Average home value: $444,455
Total cost of living (annually): $56,287
Livability: 69
3. Redding
Median household income: $70,466
Average home value: $395,756
Total cost of living (annually): $53,384
Livability: 75
4. Calexico
Median household income: $49,783
Average home value: $397,302
Total cost of living (annually): $52,685
Livability: 64
5. Fresno
Median household income: $70,991
Average home value: $403,475
Total cost of living (annually): $52,664
Livability: 63
6. Eureka
Median household income: $57,662
Average home value: $415,799
Total cost of living (annually): $52,319
Livability: 63
7. Bakersfield
Median household income: $80,540
Average home value: $395,503
Total cost of living (annually): $52,115
Livability: 57
8. El Centro
Median household income: $53,082
Average home value: $394,796
Total cost of living (annually): $52,008
Livability: 72
9. Brawley
Median household income: $59,311
Average home value: $360,465
Total cost of living (annually): $49,846
Livability: 56
Methodology: For this study, MoneyLion analyzed cities across the U.S. to find the most affordable cities with the best weather year-round. First MoneyLion found cities with the best weather using online sources including 247WallSt.com, ClimeCostmos.com, Grillio.com, U.S. News & World Report, HowStuffWorks.com, UnofficialNetworks.com, clutter.com, currentresults.com, extraspace.com, farmersalmanac.com, homesnacks.com, iroamly.com, moneytalksnews.com, Redfin.com and WorldAtlas.com. For each city several factors were sourced from the U.S. Census 2024 5-Year American Community Survey (ACS) including total population, population ages 65 and over, total households and median household income. To qualify for this study, the city must have at least 10,000 total population. For each city the cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling's BestPlaces and using the national average expenditure costs, as sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure costs were calculated for each city. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. Assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage can be calculated for each city. Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs, the total cost of living for necessities was calculated for each city. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes and included as supplemental information. The cities were sorted to show the most affordable cities with the best weather. All data is up to date as of July 28, 2026.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
More From MoneyLion: