Southern California is not known for its low cost of living. In fact, it is ranked as the third most expensive state to live in. That being said, it is an awesome place to call home, if you can afford it. The good news is that there are several places in this beautiful part of the country where families can afford to settle down. Check out some of the cheapest cities in Southern California that also happen to be really great places to live.
- Oxnard
Aka The Beav/Flickr Oxnard, an oceanside city in Ventura County, is also an agricultural community and has remained one of the most affordable places to find a home in SoCal. It boasts a calm, suburban atmosphere, pretty beaches with sandy lawns, a harbor, and plenty of locally-owned businesses, shops, and restaurants. Oxnard, CA, USA
- Oceanside
Visitor7, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Just north of San Diego, Oceanside is a quintessential beach town with lovely weather year-round, long sandy beaches, a historic pier, and cute bungalow-style neighborhoods. It is also located about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, making both cities accessible. Oceanside, CA, USA
- Long Beach
Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons The city of Long Beach has a reputation as one of the safest places to live in California and one of the cheapest to boot. It is a great city for families, with plenty of restaurants, beaches, festivals, an aquarium, and more. Long Beach, CA, USA
- Glendale
Spiderplay/E+ via Getty Images Glendale is a great alternative for those who love the idea of living in Los Angeles, but want to find somewhere safer and with a lower cost of living. It has a bit more of a relaxed environment than L.A., but is also a short commute for anyone who chooses to work or play in the city. Glendale, CA, USA
- Seal Beach
BehindTheLens/iStock via Getty Images Plus The small coastal city of Seal Beach is a quiet, friendly community located at the northern end of Orange County. It is also known to be a tight-knit community and one of the top cities in the country to call home. Seal Beach, CA, USA
- Santa Paula
Gary Conner/Stockbyte via Getty Images Characterized by charming a small-town vibe, avocado and citrus groves, green mountains, and historical landmarks, Santa Paula is a wonderful, laid-back place to call home. Despite the rural feel, it is conveniently located near the cities of Ventura and Santa Barbara. It is also not far from the beach, making it feel like you really can have it all. Santa Paula, CA 93060, USA
- Colton
MattGush/iStock via Getty Images Plus Also nicknamed “Hub City,” Colton is a suburb of San Bernardino known for being safe, friendly, and inexpensive, and it is thought by many to be an excellent place to raise a family. Colton, CA, USA
- Rancho Santa Margarita
rsmseymour/iStock via Getty Images Plus In addition to being one of SoCal’s most affordable cities to settle in, Rancho Santa Margarita was listed second by Safewise on its list of California’s Top 50 Safest Cities in 2022. The city has grown due to many small and local businesses but still has a warm, small-town feel. Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, USA
- Redlands
MattGush/iStock via Getty Images Plus Redlands has been called “a big town with a small town feel.” It was founded in the late 1800s and is known for its beautiful buildings from that time. The cost of living here is cheaper than the state average, and it has a lot of character with museums, gardens, a 1920s amphitheater, and the University of Redlands. Redlands, CA, USA
- Temecula
Michael J. Slezak/ms4jah / Moment via Getty Images Known for its gorgeous wine country, historic old town, and annual hot air balloon festival, Temecula is a simply lovely place to call home, free of the traffic, overcrowding, and the high expense of SoCal’s big metropolitan areas. Temecula, CA, USA
If you are dreaming of a home in California, these 10 cities are definitely worth considering. What do you think of Southern California’s cheapest cities? Do you know of other affordable places to live in SoCal? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Whether you already call this home or want to see what this part of the state is all about, here are some road trip ideas to see the best of SoCal.
Aka The Beav/Flickr
Oxnard, an oceanside city in Ventura County, is also an agricultural community and has remained one of the most affordable places to find a home in SoCal. It boasts a calm, suburban atmosphere, pretty beaches with sandy lawns, a harbor, and plenty of locally-owned businesses, shops, and restaurants.
Oxnard, CA, USA
Visitor7, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Just north of San Diego, Oceanside is a quintessential beach town with lovely weather year-round, long sandy beaches, a historic pier, and cute bungalow-style neighborhoods. It is also located about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, making both cities accessible.
Oceanside, CA, USA
Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
The city of Long Beach has a reputation as one of the safest places to live in California and one of the cheapest to boot. It is a great city for families, with plenty of restaurants, beaches, festivals, an aquarium, and more.
Long Beach, CA, USA
Spiderplay/E+ via Getty Images
Glendale is a great alternative for those who love the idea of living in Los Angeles, but want to find somewhere safer and with a lower cost of living. It has a bit more of a relaxed environment than L.A., but is also a short commute for anyone who chooses to work or play in the city.
Glendale, CA, USA
BehindTheLens/iStock via Getty Images Plus
The small coastal city of Seal Beach is a quiet, friendly community located at the northern end of Orange County. It is also known to be a tight-knit community and one of the top cities in the country to call home.
Seal Beach, CA, USA
Gary Conner/Stockbyte via Getty Images
Characterized by charming a small-town vibe, avocado and citrus groves, green mountains, and historical landmarks, Santa Paula is a wonderful, laid-back place to call home. Despite the rural feel, it is conveniently located near the cities of Ventura and Santa Barbara. It is also not far from the beach, making it feel like you really can have it all.
Santa Paula, CA 93060, USA
MattGush/iStock via Getty Images Plus
Also nicknamed “Hub City,” Colton is a suburb of San Bernardino known for being safe, friendly, and inexpensive, and it is thought by many to be an excellent place to raise a family.
Colton, CA, USA
rsmseymour/iStock via Getty Images Plus
In addition to being one of SoCal’s most affordable cities to settle in, Rancho Santa Margarita was listed second by Safewise on its list of California’s Top 50 Safest Cities in 2022. The city has grown due to many small and local businesses but still has a warm, small-town feel.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, USA
Redlands has been called “a big town with a small town feel.” It was founded in the late 1800s and is known for its beautiful buildings from that time. The cost of living here is cheaper than the state average, and it has a lot of character with museums, gardens, a 1920s amphitheater, and the University of Redlands.
Redlands, CA, USA
Michael J. Slezak/ms4jah / Moment via Getty Images
Known for its gorgeous wine country, historic old town, and annual hot air balloon festival, Temecula is a simply lovely place to call home, free of the traffic, overcrowding, and the high expense of SoCal’s big metropolitan areas.
Temecula, CA, USA
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