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Ukiah, CA

Cost of living in Mendocino County, CA

Estimated monthly cost
$3,231/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 90,709 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,220 38%
Healthcare $480 15%
Federal tax $460 14%
Groceries $397 12%
Transport $320 10%
Energy $217 7%
State tax $77 2%
Water $60 2%

Rent in Mendocino County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,173
per month
1 bedroom
$1,220
per month
2 bedroom
$1,601
per month
3 bedroom
$2,243
per month
4 bedroom
$2,688
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Mendocino County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$64,688
per year
Individual earnings
$38,162
per year
Per capita
$37,230
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Mendocino County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$486,000
Annual property tax
$3,376

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Mendocino 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 Mendocino County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
8.2%

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 Mendocino 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 Mendocino County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
22.3 min
Drive alone
71.5%
Public transit
0.4%
Work from home
11.7%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Mendocino County

What it costs to live in Mendocino County each month.

Single person
$3,231
per month
  • Rent $1,220
  • Energy $217
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $397
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $460
  • State tax $77
Couple
$4,828
per month
  • Rent $1,601
  • Energy $260
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $658
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $729
  • State tax $226
Family
$7,677
per month
  • Rent $2,243
  • Energy $326
  • Water $85
  • Groceries $998
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $729
  • State tax $226

Frequently asked questions about Mendocino County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Mendocino County?

In Mendocino County, CA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,220 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,601 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,243 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Mendocino County?

In Mendocino County, CA, the average household income is $64,688 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $38,162 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Mendocino County?

The estimated cost of living in Mendocino County, CA is approximately $3,231 per month for a single person, $4,828 for a couple, $7,677 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Mendocino County?

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

Is Mendocino County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Mendocino County, CA would need approximately $3,231 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $64,688 per year ($5,391 per month). Mendocino County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Mendocino County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Mendocino County, CA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 8.2% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Mendocino County?

The average home value in Mendocino County, CA is $486,000, with average annual property taxes of $3,376, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Mendocino County compare to other areas?

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