Californians are no strangers to compromise. Living here has long meant paying more for rent, mortgages, utilities, gas, child care — even groceries.
In exchange, we’ve been rewarded with breathtaking natural beauty, a robust economy and a vibrant cultural scene.
But as costs continue to rise, the payoff hasn’t proven to be enough for a growing number of people. Since 2016, in every year except one, more people have moved out of California than moved in.
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For those who have stayed in California, many expenses have only gotten worse. Monthly payments for a newly purchased mid-tier home have climbed a whopping 74% from just under $3,200 in Jan. 2020 to more than $5,500 in Sept. 2025, according to the state’s Legislative Analysts’ Office.
Meanwhile, rents in California continue to outpace the nation, with real estate listings website Zillow reporting that a median one-bedroom goes for around $2,100 a month, 40% higher than the national average.
These high costs are increasingly forcing painful trade-offs. Kenya Brown, who lives in Bay Point, sent her four youngest kids to spend time at her oldest son’s apartment because she was unable to pay her utility bills. Davis resident Carin Lenk Sloane is considering leaving the country due to rising health insurance premiums.
In a KQED reader survey, one parent said child care costs more than her mortgage, while another said her family was putting off buying a home altogether to afford day care for her infant.
So, tell us, what trade-offs are you making? Maybe you’ve taken on a side hustle or two. Perhaps you’re leaning on your community more or eating out less. Big or small, we want to know how you’re making your life more affordable.
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