Carlsbad, California has an overall cost of living index of 110.7, which is 10.7 points above the US average of 100 — making it pricier than most American cities. Renters pay a median of $2,808 per month, while the typical home is valued around $1,257,000. Households earn a median of $142,748 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$142,748
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$2,808
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$1,257,000
Median Home Value
Census ACS
110.7
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$2,288
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$2,459
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$3,001
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$3,998
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
110.7
Goods
102.2
Rents / Housing
185.8
Services
158.3
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $157,860 |
| Registered Nurse | $139,350 |
| Elementary Teacher | $86,960 |
| Electrician | $82,400 |
| Accountant | $104,740 |
| Plumber | $74,940 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $277,840 |
| Civil Engineer | $116,680 |
| Operations Manager | N/A |
| Market Research Analyst | $94,230 |
| Health Services Manager | $169,580 |
| Truck Driver | $59,040 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | $173,930 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
114,373
Latest estimate
Median Age
42.5 yrs
Census ACS
AQI data not available
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
8
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$2,407
Per month
Avg Home Value
$963,825
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 92008 | — | $2,223 | $1,051,400 |
| ZIP 92009 | — | $2,825 | $1,158,900 |
| ZIP 92010 | — | $2,465 | $899,000 |
| ZIP 92011 | — | $2,894 | $1,079,100 |
| ZIP 92024 | — | $2,471 | $1,299,800 |
| ZIP 92054 | — | $1,784 | $753,400 |
| ZIP 92078 | — | $2,274 | $787,600 |
| ZIP 92081 | — | $2,323 | $681,400 |
Healthcare Score
51.0
fair
Hospitals
200
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
96.0%
Carlsbad has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 110.7. The US national average is 100, so Carlsbad is 10.7 points above the national average.
The median gross rent in Carlsbad is $2,808 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Carlsbad is $142,748 per year.
The median home value in Carlsbad is $1,257,000 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Air quality data for Carlsbad is not yet available.
Tax data for California is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
