CALIFORNIA housing costs are about double the national average as the state struggles to keep up with demand because of past policies. - BY ITZEL LUNACALIFORNIA housing costs are about double the national average as the state struggles to keep up with demand because of past policies. (ALLEN J. SCHABEN Los Angeles Times)In California's spendy cities, living comfortably costs more than almost anywhere else. San José ranked as the second-most expensive city, where a single adult must make nearly $160,000 and a family of four needs over $400,000 to live comfortably, the study found. New York City topped the list, with a salary for comfortable living at about $900 higher than in San José.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 28, 2026 21:48 UTC