Cost of Living in Vallejo, CA
Vallejo, CA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Vallejo, CA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Vallejo, CA?
With a price level of 108.5 (U.S. average = 100), Vallejo, CA is more expensive than average. In detail, housing costs run 42% above average; everyday goods run 5% above average; utilities run 55% above average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Vallejo, CA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 108.5 | +8.5% |
| Housing | 142.0 | +42.0% |
| Goods | 105.2 | +5.2% |
| Utilities | 155.0 | +55.0% |
| Other services | 100.3 | +0.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Vallejo, CA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,567 | $62,680/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,705 | $68,200/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,178 | $87,120/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,911 | $116,440/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,297 | $131,880/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Vallejo, CA
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Vallejo, CA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $43,400 | $35,762 |
| $60,000 | $65,100 | $51,646 |
| $80,000 | $86,800 | $64,923 |
| $100,000 | $108,500 | $77,888 |
| $150,000 | $162,700 | $109,455 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, California 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Vallejo, CA's median wage of $58,620 takes home about $3,913 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,705, which is 44% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $2,208 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Vallejo, CA
- Federal income tax$4,854
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,634
- Medicare (1.45%)$850
- California income tax$1,567
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$762
- Take-home pay$46,952
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Vallejo, CA
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $61,540 | $49,085 | $45,249 |
| Office Clerks, General | $49,780 | $40,495 | $37,330 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $45,660 | $37,459 | $34,531 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $44,300 | $36,438 | $33,590 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $44,110 | $36,295 | $33,458 |
| Retail Salesperson | $38,420 | $32,025 | $29,522 |
| Cashier | $37,810 | $31,567 | $29,100 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $34,320 | $28,948 | $26,685 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in California cities
Half of California’s 18,213,700 workers earn less than $58,240 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $41,600–$97,880 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: San Jose, CA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Salinas, CA is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $55,850 | 113.6 | $2,245 | 60% | $1,499 | $39,562 |
| San Francisco, CA | $74,260 | 115.6 | $2,620 | 55% | $2,161 | $49,629 |
| Riverside, CA | $48,400 | 106.4 | $1,777 | 54% | $1,514 | $37,097 |
| San Diego, CA | $58,690 | 111.9 | $2,459 | 63% | $1,458 | $42,010 |
| San Jose, CA | $84,050 | 110.4 | $2,957 | 56% | $2,316 | $57,306 |
| Sacramento, CA | $59,750 | 106.7 | $1,812 | 46% | $2,169 | $44,790 |
| Fresno, CA | $46,910 | 102.2 | $1,315 | 41% | $1,885 | $37,586 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $47,470 | 100.9 | $1,140 | 35% | $2,094 | $38,467 |
| Oxnard, CA | $52,510 | 110.5 | $2,250 | 64% | $1,291 | $38,440 |
| Stockton, CA | $48,990 | 105.1 | $1,395 | 42% | $1,931 | $37,985 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $56,850 | 107.8 | $2,155 | 57% | $1,650 | $42,362 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $51,690 | 108.8 | $2,746 | 79% | $745 | $38,503 |
| Modesto, CA | $50,610 | 104.1 | $1,356 | 40% | $2,069 | $39,479 |
| Salinas, CA | $47,380 | 109.0 | $2,232 | 69% | $996 | $35,529 |
| Visalia, CA | $45,130 | 99.8 | $1,123 | 36% | $1,965 | $37,126 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Vallejo, CA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | 108.5 | $1,705 | $58,620 | 144,130 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 93.6 | $1,229 | $37,930 | 146,260 |
| Huntington, WV | 88.4 | $829 | $44,600 | 140,740 |
| Fargo, ND | 90.9 | $917 | $51,050 | 148,660 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 89.0 | $800 | $49,360 | 139,260 |
| Killeen, TX | 91.1 | $982 | $46,660 | 150,580 |
| Rockford, IL | 92.2 | $895 | $47,120 | 137,650 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Vallejo, CA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Vallejo, CA metro area are 108.5% of the U.S. average, with housing at 142.0%. It is the #18 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Vallejo, CA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $65,087 in Vallejo, CA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $58,620.
Can you afford Vallejo, CA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $58,620 median wage takes home about $3,913 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,705 would take 44% of that.
How much is rent in Vallejo, CA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Vallejo, CA are $1,567 for a studio, $1,705 for one bedroom, $2,178 for two bedrooms and $2,911 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Vallejo, CA
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $203,290
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,320
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $44,110
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $38,420
- Cashier — $37,810
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Office Clerks, General — $49,780
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $61,540
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $45,660
- Stocker and Order Filler — $44,300