Skip to main content
LiveWhere us
California

Cost of living in Sierra County, CA

Estimated monthly cost
$3,287/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 2,731 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,101 33%
Federal tax $595 18%
Healthcare $480 15%
Groceries $397 12%
Transport $320 10%
Energy $217 7%
State tax $117 4%
Water $60 2%

Rent in Sierra County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,003
per month
1 bedroom
$1,101
per month
2 bedroom
$1,445
per month
3 bedroom
$2,025
per month
4 bedroom
$2,396
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Sierra County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$60,000
per year
Individual earnings
$46,413
per year
Per capita
$40,612
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Sierra County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$334,100
Annual property tax
$2,590

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Sierra 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 Sierra County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
12.4%

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 Sierra 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 Sierra County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
29.5 min
Drive alone
70.8%
Public transit
0.0%
Work from home
13.0%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Sierra County

What it costs to live in Sierra County each month.

Single person
$3,287
per month
  • Rent $1,101
  • Energy $217
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $397
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $595
  • State tax $117
Couple
$4,564
per month
  • Rent $1,445
  • Energy $260
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $658
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $652
  • State tax $195
Family
$7,351
per month
  • Rent $2,025
  • Energy $326
  • Water $85
  • Groceries $998
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $652
  • State tax $195

Frequently asked questions about Sierra County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Sierra County?

In Sierra County, CA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,101 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,445 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,025 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Sierra County?

In Sierra County, CA, the average household income is $60,000 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $46,413 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Sierra County?

The estimated cost of living in Sierra County, CA is approximately $3,287 per month for a single person, $4,564 for a couple, $7,351 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Sierra County?

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

Is Sierra County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Sierra County, CA would need approximately $3,287 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $60,000 per year ($5,000 per month). Sierra County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Sierra County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Sierra County, CA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 12.4% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Sierra County?

The average home value in Sierra County, CA is $334,100, with average annual property taxes of $2,590, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Sierra County compare to other areas?

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

Other counties in California

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

See all counties in California

Compare Sierra 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