The state of California may be well-known for its high cost of living, but it’s still possible to live in a city where you can pocket substantial savings. An in-house GOBankingRates study identified 10 California cities as those where your paycheck stretches far enough to leave at least $10,000 in savings leftover — or upwards to more than $30,000.
GOBankingRates referred to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 study to analyze the top 100 cities by population and compile their median household income and annual cost of necessities. In a surprising twist, paychecks go the distance in pricey San Francisco. Residents end up with $11,716 to set aside in savings.
Check out which California cities made the cut below. Then, explore America’s top 40 cities where paychecks go further than you might think.
1. Santa Clarita
- Median household income: $119,926
- Annual cost of necessities: $85,712
- What’s left: $34,214
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2. Fremont
- Median household income: $176,350
- Annual cost of necessities: $143,508
- What’s left: $32,842
3. Bakersfield
- Median household income: $77,397
- Annual cost of necessities: $52,552
- What’s left: $24,845
4. Sacramento
- Median household income: $83,753
- Annual cost of necessities: $60,770
- What’s left: $22,983
5. Stockton
- Median household income: $76,851
- Annual cost of necessities: $57,129
- What’s left: $19,722
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6. Chula Vista
- Median household income: $105,173
- Annual cost of necessities: $88,898
- What’s left: $16,275
7. Riverside
- Median household income: $88,575
- Annual cost of necessities: $72,705
- What’s left: $15,870
8. Fresno
- Median household income: $66,804
- Annual cost of necessities: $52,415
- What’s left: $14,389
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9. Oakland
- Median household income: $97,369
- Annual cost of necessities: $84,324
- What’s left: $13,045
10. San Francisco
- Median household income: $141,446
- Annual cost of necessities: $129,730
- What’s left: $11,716
See more original studies and surveys in the GOBankingRates original research center.
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the top 100 cities by population, as sourced from the U.S. Census 2023 American Community Survey. Cost of living was sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces, and the average expenditure cost for all households was sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. The average home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index; by assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage was calculated. The average mortgage and expenditures were used to calculate the total cost of living for necessities in each location. Using the median household income, the leftover savings was calculated and sorted to show the largest savings first. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Aug. 18, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 10 Top California Cities Where Your Paycheck Goes the Furthest
