Salinas, California Ranks as Seventh Most Expensive U.S. City to Live In
Salinas, California, has been named the seventh most expensive city to live in the United States, according to a new report by U.S. News & World Report. The list ranks Salinas just behind San Francisco, which holds the sixth spot, and ahead of New York City, which is ranked 11th.
The ranking was determined by comparing “how comfortably the average resident of each metro area can afford to live within their means.” This calculation takes into account income and housing costs for both renters and homeowners.
Although the cost of living in Salinas may be lower compared to San Francisco, there are still significant disparities between average annual income, median home price, and median monthly rent in both cities. The median home price in Salinas is $925,458, while the average salary is $56,350. In San Francisco, the median home price is $1,122,946, and the average salary is $86,590.
California cities dominate the list, with seven of the top 10 spots taken by cities in the state. San Diego and Los Angeles rank as the most and second most expensive cities, respectively, while the Bay Area city of Santa Rosa takes the eighth spot.
Salinas, located at the mouth of the Salinas Valley, is known as the “Salad Bowl of the World,” with many residents working in the agriculture industry. It is unclear from the report whether the ranking refers specifically to Salinas or includes the entire Salinas metro area, which encompasses affluent communities like Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea. However, locals agree that the cost of living in the city is high.
Joaquin Turner, who commutes from Salinas to Carmel-by-the-Sea for work, said that rents in Salinas are currently “really high.” According to U.S. News, the city’s median monthly rent stands at $1,718.
“We think of Salinas as being more affordable,” Turner said, “but compared to the rest of the U.S. or even other parts of California, Salinas is still quite pricey.”
SFGATE reached out to U.S. News for clarification on the report but did not receive a response in time for publication.
It is essential to note that this story has been updated.