Cost of Living in Oceanside, CA - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,217 (excluding rent), and $3,588 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $3,087 (excluding rent), and $6,525 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.08 $25.08

$15.05 $15.05

$50.2 $50.2

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.5 $80.5

$70.5 $70.5

$161 $161

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.67 $12.67

$8.95 $8.95

$14.91 $14.91

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$4.05 $4.05

$8.1 $8.1

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.02 $2.02

$5.06 $5.06

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.03 $2.03

$10.15 $10.15

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.44 $8.44

$2.98 $2.98

$14.89 $14.89

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$5.9 $5.9

$11.8 $11.8

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$0.8 $0.8

$1.88 $1.88

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.17 $2.17

$8.72 $8.72

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$2.21 $2.21

$11.07 $11.07

Eggs

$3.73 $3.73

$2.94 $2.94

$10.94 $10.94

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.65 $12.65

$5.5 $5.5

$32.99 $32.99

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.36 $10.36

$5.55 $5.55

$24.45 $24.45

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.53 $19.53

$8.79 $8.79

$36.94 $36.94

Apples (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$2.19 $2.19

$8.76 $8.76

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 $1.41

$0.86 $0.86

$6.45 $6.45

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 $3.65

$1.64 $1.64

$8.76 $8.76

Tomato (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$2.17 $2.17

$10.99 $10.99

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$1.13 $1.13

$6.8 $6.8

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.11 $1.11

$4.44 $4.44

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.01 $1.01

$3.05 $3.05

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.33 $1.33

$5.12 $5.12

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.98 $11.98

$10.2 $10.2

$15.29 $15.29

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$5.88 $5.88

$24.52 $24.52

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.78 $1.78

$4.11 $4.11

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 $1.23

$5.9 $5.9

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.4 $74.4

$72.9 $72.9

$76 $76

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 $3.14

$7.09 $7.09

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.47 $4.47

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.56 $29.56

$40.51 $40.51

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.15 $1.15

$1.61 $1.61

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.5K $31.5K

$24.8K $24.8K

$35.4K $35.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.5K $25.5K

$29K $29K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$163 $163

$100 $100

$351 $351

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$50.2 $50.2

$29.94 $29.94

$99.8 $99.8

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.5 $69.5

$53.4 $53.4

$138 $138

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.23 $39.23

$11.77 $11.77

$63.7 $63.7

Cinema Ticket

$13.79 $13.79

$8.87 $8.87

$21.68 $21.68

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,228 $1,228

$2,434 $2,434

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20K $20K

$40.1K $40.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.6 $49.6

$29.76 $29.76

$119 $119

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.48 $47.48

$25.39 $25.39

$81.3 $81.3

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.6 $80.6

$60.4 $60.4

$131 $131

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$80.5 $80.5

$201 $201

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,755 $2,755

$2,504 $2,504

$3,506 $3,506

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 $2,260

$2,024 $2,024

$2,530 $2,530

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,396 $4,396

$3,852 $3,852

$4,939 $4,939

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,487 $3,487

$2,988 $2,988

$3,985 $3,985

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,166 $6,166

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,176 $5,176

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,511 $4,511

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.19

7.25

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: December 1, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🌎 North america

Cost of Living in Oceanside, CA - Frequently Asked Questions

Cost of Living in Oceanside, CA, United States offers a coastal balance of value and amenities. You'll find a mix of quieter residential pockets and walkable cores with beaches nearby, often at prices more approachable than San Diego proper. For travelers, expats, and digital nomads, there are flexible housing options - short-term stays and longer leases - that fit a range of budgets. Grocery and dining options balance quality with price, and you can mix meals out with home-cooked plans to manage costs. Transit and bike-friendly streets support a lighter car footprint, especially if you choose a walkable neighborhood. Tip: Start with a two-week stay to test neighborhoods before committing.

Oceanside offers a practical rhythm for daily life. Housing clusters around the pier, downtown, and newer West Oceanside, with quieter inland pockets where rents feel more approachable. You can mix groceries at big-box stores with local markets for freshness and price. Food options span casual eateries to seafood shacks, letting you balance budget and flavor. Transit is bike-friendly and reliable rail and bus connections help you reach San Diego's wider job market or weekend trips; many errands can be handled on foot or by short rides. Oceanside, CA, United States living cost sits comfortably in a mid-range lane compared with larger coastal markets. Tip: Map your week by neighborhood to minimize backtracking and parking costs.

Quality of life here benefits from a simple budgeting approach: prioritize housing first, then allocate for groceries, dining, transport, and occasional leisure; adjust by season rather than by strict percentages. A flexible plan - track monthly spend, set a cap on eating out, and build a small buffer for odd weeks - helps you stay steady without feeling pinched. Neighborhood fit comes from testing West Oceanside for breezy beach access, Downtown for amenities and coworking, or East Oceanside for quieter mornings and easier parking. Seasonal patterns lean toward busier beaches in summer; shoulder seasons offer calmer streets and better deals on stays. Tip: Combine a short-term stay with neighborhood surveys and local coffee shop visits to refine your pick.