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El Centro, CA

Cost of living in Imperial County, CA

Part of the El Centro Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$2,965/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 179,319 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,056 36%
Healthcare $480 16%
Groceries $397 13%
Federal tax $375 13%
Transport $320 11%
Energy $217 7%
Water $60 2%
State tax $60 2%

Rent in Imperial County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$940
per month
1 bedroom
$1,056
per month
2 bedroom
$1,371
per month
3 bedroom
$1,873
per month
4 bedroom
$2,287
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Imperial County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$56,393
per year
Individual earnings
$33,020
per year
Per capita
$22,702
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Imperial County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$279,500
Annual property tax
$2,348

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Imperial County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$167
per month · 30.4¢/kWh
Natural gas
$50
per month
Annual total
$2,604
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Imperial County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
6.8%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Imperial County

State and local tax rates for California.

State income tax
13.3%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
7.3%
Combined sales tax
8.8%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Imperial County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
22.0 min
Drive alone
78.6%
Public transit
0.5%
Work from home
6.5%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Imperial County

What it costs to live in Imperial County each month.

Single person
$2,965
per month
  • Rent $1,056
  • Energy $217
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $397
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $375
  • State tax $60
Couple
$4,407
per month
  • Rent $1,371
  • Energy $260
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $658
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $593
  • State tax $171
Family
$7,116
per month
  • Rent $1,873
  • Energy $326
  • Water $85
  • Groceries $998
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $593
  • State tax $171

Frequently asked questions about Imperial County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Imperial County?

In Imperial County, CA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,056 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,371 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,873 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Imperial County?

In Imperial County, CA, the average household income is $56,393 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $33,020 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Imperial County?

The estimated cost of living in Imperial County, CA is approximately $2,965 per month for a single person, $4,407 for a couple, $7,116 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Imperial County?

The combined sales tax rate in Imperial County, CA is 8.85%, which includes the California state rate of 7.25% plus an average local rate of 1.60%.

Is Imperial County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Imperial County, CA would need approximately $2,965 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $56,393 per year ($4,699 per month). Imperial County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Imperial County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Imperial County, CA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 6.8% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Imperial County?

The average home value in Imperial County, CA is $279,500, with average annual property taxes of $2,348, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Imperial County compare to other areas?

You can compare Imperial County, CA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Imperial County is in the El Centro, CA metro area.

Other counties in California

Browse the full list of counties in California, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in California

Compare Imperial County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources