Where Is The Cheapest Place To Live In California. El centro is california’s cheapest spot, based on this math. If you want to live cheaply in california, you won’t be living on the coast, but that doesn’t mean you will be that far from it.

$500,000 (27% below california average) average rent price: According to the census data we crunched, ridgecrest ranks as the cheapest place to live in california. With its population at about 5,408 occupants, cost of living index at 22% below california’s average and its average home price at $261,000, the crime rate at williams is about 37% below california’s average crime rate.