Skip to main content
LiveWhere us
Clearlake, CA

Cost of living in Lake County, CA

Estimated monthly cost
$2,980/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 68,139 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,060 36%
Healthcare $480 16%
Federal tax $442 15%
Groceries $397 13%
Transport $250 8%
Energy $217 7%
State tax $74 2%
Water $60 2%

Rent in Lake County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,053
per month
1 bedroom
$1,060
per month
2 bedroom
$1,390
per month
3 bedroom
$1,948
per month
4 bedroom
$2,334
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Lake County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$58,738
per year
Individual earnings
$37,111
per year
Per capita
$34,768
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Lake County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$316,800
Annual property tax
$2,295

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Lake 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 Lake County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
6.4%

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 Lake 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 Lake County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
30.3 min
Drive alone
67.9%
Public transit
0.8%
Work from home
15.8%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Lake County

What it costs to live in Lake County each month.

Single person
$2,980
per month
  • Rent $1,060
  • Energy $217
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $397
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $442
  • State tax $74
Couple
$4,410
per month
  • Rent $1,390
  • Energy $260
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $658
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $631
  • State tax $187
Family
$7,175
per month
  • Rent $1,948
  • Energy $326
  • Water $85
  • Groceries $998
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $631
  • State tax $187

Frequently asked questions about Lake County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Lake County?

In Lake County, CA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,060 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,390 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,948 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Lake County?

In Lake County, CA, the average household income is $58,738 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $37,111 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Lake County?

The estimated cost of living in Lake County, CA is approximately $2,980 per month for a single person, $4,410 for a couple, $7,175 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Lake County?

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

Is Lake County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Lake County, CA would need approximately $2,980 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $58,738 per year ($4,895 per month). Lake County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Lake County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Lake County, CA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 6.4% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Lake County?

The average home value in Lake County, CA is $316,800, with average annual property taxes of $2,295, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Lake County compare to other areas?

You can compare Lake County, CA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Lake County is in the Clearlake, 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 Lake 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