What You Can Get in Every State for the Price of a California Home

It’s becoming clear that California real estate is uniquely expensive compared to the rest of the country. The 2018 median home price in the state — $539,000 — is high, but house prices are even higher in its four biggest cities: San Diego ($655,888), Los Angeles ($795,000), San Jose ($990,888) and San Francisco ($1,199,000).

In most major cities across the U.S., you would pay less for a house — and in some, you could buy multiple houses for the cost of a single home in a California city.

GOBankingRates determined what you could get in every state for the price of a California home by taking the median listing price of the two biggest cities from every state, and comparing the cost of a home in each city to housing prices in California’s biggest cities.

Click through to find out how to manage your money better so you can afford a home no matter where you live.

Alabama

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 11 homes in Birmingham
• 1 home in San Diego = 9 homes in Birmingham
• 1 home in San Jose = 14 homes in Birmingham
• 1 home in San Francisco = 17 homes in Birmingham

The median list price in Birmingham is $69,900 — the second-lowest of all the cities included in this study. Alabama is one of the states where you can buy the largest home for your money, a separate GOBankingRates study found.

Alaska

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 2.5 homes in Anchorage
• 1 home in San Diego = 2 homes in Anchorage
• 1 home in San Jose = 3 homes in Anchorage
• 1 home in San Francisco = 4 homes in Anchorage

Anchorage is home to the most expensive zip code in the state of Alaska — but buying a house there is still cheaper than in any of the biggest cities in California. The median home list price in Anchorage is $315,000.

Arizona

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 3 homes in Phoenix
• 1 home in San Diego = 2 homes in Phoenix
• 1 home in San Jose = 3 homes in Phoenix
• 1 home in San Francisco = 4 homes in Phoenix

Phoenix is more populous than San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco — but it’s much cheaper to live in Phoenix. The median home list price is $284,500 in the capital of Arizona.

Find Out: The Cost to Retire in America’s Warmest Cities

Arkansas

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 4 homes in Little Rock
• 1 home in San Diego = 3 homes in Little Rock
• 1 home in San Jose = 5 homes in Little Rock
• 1 home in San Francisco = 6 homes in Little Rock

The median home list price in Little Rock is $194,500, which is about a quarter of the price of a home in L.A. The capital city is one of the cheapest places to retire, according to a separate GOBankingRates study.

Colorado

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 2 homes in Denver
• 1 home in San Diego = 1 home in Denver
• 1 home in San Jose = 2 homes in Denver
• 1 home in San Francisco = 2 homes in Denver

The median home list price in Denver is $485,000, but it’s possible to find a starter home for significantly less. The city has a large percentage of millennial homeowners and a low unemployment rate, which makes it one of the best cities for aspiring millennial homeowners, a separate GOBankingRates study found.

Connecticut

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 5 homes in Hartford
• 1 home in San Diego = 4 homes in Hartford
• 1 home in San Jose = 7 homes in Hartford
• 1 home in San Francisco = 8 homes in Hartford

The median home list price in Hartford is $146,500, making it a much more affordable city to buy a home than one of California’s most populous cities. However, it’s worth noting that this is due to its large deficit.

Delaware

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 4 homes in Newark
• 1 home in San Diego = 3 homes in Newark
• 1 home in San Jose = 4 homes in Newark
• 1 home in San Francisco = 4 homes in Newark

You could buy four homes in Newark for the cost of a single home in Los Angeles, San Jose or San Francisco. The median home list price in Delaware’s largest city, and home to the University of Delaware, is $216,273.

Florida

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 2 homes in Miami
• 1 home in San Diego = 1 homes in Miami
• 1 home in San Jose = 2 homes in Miami
• 1 home in San Francisco = 3 homes in Miami

Miami is home to one of the hottest neighborhoods for real estate in the U.S., a separate GOBankingRates study found. The median list price for a home in the city is $465,000.

Georgia

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 2 homes in Atlanta
• 1 home in San Diego = 2 homes in Atlanta
• 1 home in San Jose = 3 homes in Atlanta
• 1 home in San Francisco = 3.5 homes in Atlanta

A first-time homebuyer is much better off looking in Georgia than in California. The Southern state is one of the best states for those looking to purchase their first home, a separate GOBankingRates study found. In Atlanta, the median home list price is $339,900.

Hawaii

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 1 home in Honolulu
• 1 home in San Diego = 1 home in Honolulu
• 1 home in San Jose = 2 homes in Honolulu
• 1 home in San Francisco = 2 homes in Honolulu

One of the more expensive things you can do in Honolulu is buy a home as the median home list price there is $625,000 — just about $30,000 less than San Diego’s median home list price.

Live in Paradise: 20 Real Islands You Can Buy

Idaho

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 3 homes in Nampa
• 1 home in San Diego = 3 homes in Nampa
• 1 home in San Jose = 4 homes in Nampa
• 1 home in San Francisco = 5 homes in Nampa

The median home list price in Nampa is $235,500, which is about a quarter of the median home list price in San Jose. In Idaho, Nampa is the city where your paycheck stretches the furthest, another GOBankingRates study found.

Illinois

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 8 homes in Rockford
• 1 home in San Diego = 7 homes in Rockford
• 1 home in San Jose = 10 homes in Rockford
• 1 home in San Francisco = 13 homes in Rockford

The median home list price in Rockford is $95,000, so you could buy houses in the double digits in the city for the cost of a home in San Jose or San Francisco.

See what a million-dollar home looks like around the U.S.

Indiana

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 5 homes in Indianapolis
• 1 home in San Diego = 4 homes in Indianapolis
• 1 home in San Jose = 6 homes in Indianapolis
• 1 home in San Francisco = 8 homes in Indianapolis

Indianapolis is one of the cities where your paycheck goes the furthest, a separate GOBankingRates study found. The median home list price in Indianapolis is $155,000.

Iowa

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 6 homes in Des Moines
• 1 home in San Diego = 5 homes in Des Moines
• 1 home in San Jose = 7 homes in Des Moines
• 1 home in San Francisco = 9 homes in Des Moines

For the price of a single home in San Jose, you could get seven homes in Des Moines, where the median home list price is $139,500. Des Moines is located in its state’s richest congressional district, a separate GOBankingRates study found.

Kansas

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 5 homes in Wichita
• 1 home in San Diego = 4 homes in Wichita
• 1 home in San Jose = 6 homes in Wichita
• 1 home in San Francisco = 7 homes in Wichita

Wichita is one of the cities where home prices are getting slashed, a separate GOBankingRate study found, and home prices are already relatively low. The median home list price in Wichita is $160,000.

Kentucky

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 4 homes in Louisville
• 1 home in San Diego = 3 homes in Louisville
• 1 home in San Jose = 5 homes in Louisville
• 1 home in San Francisco = 6 homes in Louisville

Louisville is a city where you can live comfortably on less than $60,000 a year, a separate GOBankingRates study found. The median home list price in Louisville is $199,000, so you’d be able to buy six homes in the city for the cost of a single home in San Francisco.

Louisiana

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 2 homes in New Orleans
• 1 home in San Diego = 2 homes in New Orleans
• 1 home in San Jose = 3 homes in New Orleans
• 1 home in San Francisco = 4 homes in New Orleans

With a median home list price of $325,000, New Orleans has much more affordable homes than any of the major California cities. However, a separate GOBankingRates study found that it’s one of the worst cities to own investment property.

Maine

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 2 homes in Portland
• 1 home in San Diego = 1 home in Portland
• 1 home in San Jose = 2 homes in Portland
• 1 home in San Francisco = 3 homes in Portland

Homes are relatively expensive in Portland, Maine — the median home list price is $474,500 — but homes are still cheaper there than in the four biggest California cities.

Maryland

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 5 homes in Baltimore
• 1 home in San Diego = 4 homes in Baltimore
• 1 home in San Jose = 6 homes in Baltimore
• 1 home in San Francisco = 8 homes in Baltimore

The median home list price in Baltimore is $158,100, so you could get five homes in the city for the same price of a single L.A. home. It’s also a good place to buy a home for those entering their golden years, as Baltimore is one of the best cities to retire rich, a separate GOBankingRates study found.

Massachusetts

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 1 home in Boston
• 1 home in San Diego = 1 home in Boston
• 1 home in San Jose = 1 home in Boston
• 1 home in San Francisco = 2 homes in Boston

With a median list price of $725,000, Boston real estate is comparable to real estate in Los Angeles — and even more expensive than real estate in San Diego.

Michigan

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 7 homes in Warren
• 1 home in San Diego = 6 homes in Warren
• 1 home in San Jose = 8 homes in Warren
• 1 home in San Francisco = 10 homes in Warren

The median home list price in Warren is $117,250. Michigan is one of the cheapest states in America, thanks in part to low living costs such as housing, a separate GOBankingRates study found.

Minnesota

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 3 homes in St. Paul
• 1 home in San Diego = 3 homes in St. Paul
• 1 home in San Jose = 4 homes in St. Paul
• 1 home in San Francisco = 5 homes in St. Paul

In St. Paul, the price of a home is only $228,000 — which means you can get a nice chunk of real estate for the price of a California home. And in other Minnesota cities, you might even find cheaper houses.

Mississippi

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 6 homes in Jackson
• 1 home in San Diego = 5 homes in Jackson
• 1 home in San Jose = 7 homes in Jackson
• 1 home in San Francisco = 9 homes in Jackson

California has the third-highest cost of living in the U.S., but Mississippi has the lowest, another GOBankingRates study found. Housing costs in Jackson are low too, with the median home list price at $139,900.

Missouri

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 5 homes in St. Louis
• 1 home in San Diego = 4 homes in St. Louis
• 1 home in San Jose = 7 homes in St. Louis
• 1 home in San Francisco = 8 homes in St. Louis

The median home list price in St. Louis is $149,900, so you’d be able to buy eight homes there for the cost of a single home in San Francisco. Thanks to its affordable home prices, St. Louis is one of the cities where you can own a home for $1,000 or less a month, another GOBankingRates study found.

Montana

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 4 homes in Great Falls
• 1 home in San Diego = 3 homes in Great Falls
• 1 home in San Jose = 5 homes in Great Falls
• 1 home in San Francisco = 6 homes in Great Falls

Great Falls is one of the best places to live on a fixed income, a separate GOBankingRates study found. The median home list price in the city is $193,200.

Nebraska

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 3 homes in Omaha
• 1 home in San Diego = 3 homes in Omaha
• 1 home in San Jose = 4 homes in Omaha
• 1 home in San Francisco= 5 homes in Omaha

Nebraska is one of the cheapest states to build a house in, another GOBankingRates study found, but it’s also relatively cheap to buy a home there. In Omaha, the median home list price is $229,950 — which is less than one-fourth of the cost of a home in San Jose.

Nevada

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 3 homes in Las Vegas
• 1 home in San Diego = 2 homes in Las Vegas
• 1 home in San Jose = 3 homes in Las Vegas
• 1 home in San Francisco: 4 homes in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is just a short plane ride away from Los Angeles, but one secret to the city is that its home prices are vastly different: The median home list price in Las Vegas is $289,000 — $506,000 less than the median home list price in Los Angeles.

Did Your City Make the List? Best and Worst Cities for Retirees

New Hampshire

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 3 homes in Manchester
• 1 home in San Diego = 3 homes in Manchester
• 1 home in San Jose = 4 homes in Manchester
• 1 home in San Francisco = 5 homes in Manchester

For the price of a single home in Los Angeles or San Diego, you could get three homes in Manchester, where the median home list price is $235,000. The city is home to a convention center, sports stadiums, entertainment, arts and culture. And New Hampshire is a pretty good place for first-time homebuyers.

New Jersey

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 1 home in Jersey City
• 1 home in San Diego = 1 home in Jersey City
• 1 home in San Jose = 2 homes in Jersey City
• 1 home in San Francisco = 2 homes in Jersey City

Jersey City is one of the cities where home prices are rising fast, a separate GOBankingRates study found. The median home price in the Northeast city is already $535,000, so it’s possible home prices could soon be on par with San Diego.

New Mexico

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 4 homes in Albuquerque
• 1 home in San Diego = 3 homes in Albuquerque
• 1 home in San Jose = 4 homes in Albuquerque
• 1 home in San Francisco = 5 homes in Albuquerque

Homes in New Mexico’s largest city are significantly more affordable than homes in California’s largest cities. The median list price in the city is $220,450. Albuquerque is an affordable place to live overall — it’s one of the cities where you can afford to live off less than $50,000, another GOBankingRates study found.

New York

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 12 homes in Rochester
• 1 home in San Diego = 10 homes in Rochester
• 1 home in San Jose = 15 homes in Rochester
• 1 home in San Jose = 18 homes in Rochester

With a median home list price of $68,250, Rochester has the cheapest homes of all the cities included in this study. The median-priced home in the upstate N.Y. city costs $1.13 million less than a home in San Francisco.

Also in N.Y., in Buffalo, you can buy double-digit houses by comparison with most of the California cities on this list.

North Carolina

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 3 homes in Charlotte
• 1 home in San Diego = 2 homes in Charlotte
• 1 home in San Jose = 3 homes in Charlotte
• 1 home in San Francisco = 4 homes in Charlotte

Charlotte is home to great weather, craft beer, natural beauty — and much cheaper homes than you’ll find in California’s largest cities. The median home list price in North Carolina’s largest city is $298,000, but it might take longer to buy a home here if you’re a millennial.

North Dakota

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 3 homes in Fargo
• 1 home in San Diego = 3 homes in Fargo
• 1 home in San Jose = 4 homes in Fargo
• 1 home in San Francisco = 5 homes in Fargo

The median home list price in Fargo is $259,900, which is about one-fifth of the cost of a San Francisco home. The city is a center of industry and agriculture, and is home to several historic neighborhoods. And the state is a great place to be if you’re already wealthy.

Ohio

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 10 homes in Cleveland
• 1 home in San Diego = 9 homes in Cleveland
• 1 home in San Jose = 13 homes in Cleveland
• 1 home in San Francisco = 16 homes in Cleveland

With a median list price of $76,000, Cleveland has the third-cheapest homes of all of the cities included in this study. Homes in Cleveland cost hundreds of thousands of dollars less than in the major California cities.

Oklahoma

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 4 homes in Oklahoma City
• 1 home in San Diego = 4 homes in Oklahoma City
• 1 home in San Jose = 5 homes in Oklahoma City
• 1 home in San Francisco = 6 homes in Oklahoma City

With a median home list price of $184,900, Oklahoma City is one of the places in America where homes are still affordable.

Oregon

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 2 homes in Portland
• 1 home in San Diego = 1 home in Portland
• 1 home in San Jose = 2 homes in Portland
• 1 home in San Jose = 3 homes in Portland

Portland, Ore., is one of the cities where the cost of living is soaring, but home prices are still lower there than in California’s biggest cities. The median home list price in the Pacific Northwest city is $474,500.

Pennsylvania

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 4 homes in Philadelphia
• 1 home in San Diego = 3 homes in Philadelphia
• 1 home in San Jose = 5 homes in Philadelphia
• 1 home in San Francisco = 6 homes in Philadelphia

With a median home list price of $200,000, Philadelphia is an affordable place to buy a home compared with California. However, it’s one of the worst cities to be making minimum wage, a separate GOBankingRates study found.

Rhode Island

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 4 homes in Providence
• 1 home in San Diego = 3 homes in Providence
• 1 home in San Jose = 5 homes in Providence
• 1 home in San Francisco = 5 homes in Providence

You could get five homes in Providence for the cost of a single home in San Jose or San Francisco. The median home list price in the city is $219,900, and it’s one of the best cities to buy a condo as an investment property, according to a separate GOBankingRates study.

South Carolina

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 3 homes in Greenville
• 1 home in San Diego = 2 homes in Greenville
• 1 home in San Jose = 4 homes in Greenville
• 1 home in San Francisco = 4 homes in Greenville

You could get four homes in Greenville — where the median home list price is $275,000 — for the price of a single home in San Jose or San Francisco. If you already own a home in Greenville, you might want to consider selling as it’s one of the best places to sell a home in America, according to a different GOBankingRates study.

South Dakota

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 3 homes in Sioux Falls
• 1 home in San Diego = 3 homes in Sioux Falls
• 1 home in San Jose = 4 homes in Sioux Falls
• 1 home in San Francisco = 5 homes in Sioux Falls

For the cost of a single home in Los Angeles or San Diego, you could get three homes in Sioux Falls, where the median home list price is $239,900. Sioux Falls is one of the best cities for boomers to find work, according to a separate GOBankingRates study.

Tennessee

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 9 homes in Memphis
• 1 home in San Diego = 7 homes in Memphis
• 1 home in San Jose = 11 homes in Memphis
• 1 home in San Francisco = 13 homes in Memphis

You won’t be able to own a home for $1,000 a month in any of the four biggest California cities, but you can in Memphis, a separate GOBankingRates study found. The median home list price in the Southern city is only $92,900.

Texas

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 3 homes in San Antonio
• 1 home in San Diego = 3 homes in San Antonio
• 1 home in San Jose = 4 homes in San Antonio
• 1 home in San Francisco = 5 homes in San Antonio

San Antonio is one of the cities where homes are actually getting cheaper, a separate GOBankingRates study found. The median home list price in the city is currently $234,999.

Utah

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 2 homes in Salt Lake City
• 1 home in San Diego = 2 homes in Salt Lake City
• 1 home in San Jose = 2 homes in Salt Lake City
• 1 home in San Francisco = 3 homes in Salt Lake City

The median home list price in Salt Lake City is relatively high — $415,300 — but it’s still less than half of the price of a home in San Jose or San Francisco. However, it’s getting more expensive to live there. In 2017, the city had one of the biggest cost of living increases, a previous GOBankingRates study found.

Vermont

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 5  homes in Burlington
• 1 home in San Diego = 4  homes in Burlington
• 1 home in San Jose = 6 homes in Burlington
• 1 home in San Francisco = 7 homes in Burlington

Burlington is an off-the-beaten-path travel destination thanks to its scenic lakeside shores and mountains, but it’s also an affordable place to buy a home to live in year-round. The median home list price in the city is $167,500.

Virginia

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 3 homes in Virginia Beach
• 1 home in San Diego = 2 homes in Virginia Beach
• 1 home in San Jose = 3 homes in Virginia Beach
• 1 home in San Francisco = 4 homes in Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach has a median home list price of $299,000, and, according to another GOBankingRates study, it’s one of the best places to live if you want to save money. Meanwhile, the worst places to live to save money are clustered in California.

Washington

• 1 home in Los Angeles =  1 home in Seattle
• 1 home in San Diego = 1 home in Seattle
• 1 home in San Jose = 1 home in Seattle
• 1 home in San Francisco = 2 homes in Seattle

With a median home list price of $725,000 Seattle real estate is more expensive than San Diego’s, and is almost as pricey as Los Angeles’.

West Virginia

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 7 homes in Huntington
• 1 home in San Diego = 6 homes in Huntington
• 1 home in San Jose = 9 homes in Huntington
• 1 home in San Francisco = 11 homes in Huntington

West Virginia is one of the states where you might actually be able to afford a mansion, a separate GOBankingRates study found. In Huntington, the median home list price is only $110,000.

Wisconsin

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 6 homes in Milwaukee
• 1 home in San Diego = 5 homes in Milwaukee
• 1 home in San Jose = 8 homes in Milwaukee
• 1 home in San Francisco = 9 homes in Milwaukee

Although San Francisco and Los Angeles are among the most expensive cities in America, Milwaukee is one of the best places to live if you want to save money, according to another GOBankingRates study. The median home list price in Milwaukee is $127,950.

Wyoming

• 1 home in Los Angeles = 3 homes in Casper
• 1 home in San Diego = 3 homes in Casper
• 1 home in San Jose = 4 homes in Casper
• 1 home in San Francisco = 5 homes in Casper

The median home list price in Wyoming’s second-largest city is $230,000, so you could get three homes there for the price of a single home in Los Angeles or San Diego. Casper is one of the best income tax-free cities to retire in because of its low utility costs and outdoor recreation activities available, according to a separate GOBankingRates study.

Comparing California Real Estate to Other States

Instead of buying a house in California, you could use that same money to get multiple homes in many cities across the U.S.

The cities where you can buy the most homes for the equivalent of what you would pay for a California home include Rochester, N.Y.; Birmingham, Ala.; Cleveland; and Rockford, Ill. If you can afford a single home in San Francisco, you can get 18 homes in Rochester, 17 homes in Birmingham, 16 homes in Cleveland and 13 homes in Rockford.

Click through to read about the best time of year to buy a house.

More on Real Estate

• Remodeling 101: From HELOC to a Happy Home
• 12 Essential Money Tips for Every Phase of Your Financial Life
• Craziest Things That Kill Your Home’s Value

Methodology: GOBankingRates took the median home listing price for the four biggest cities in California: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose, and the home median listing price of the two biggest cities from every other state, excluding Washington, D.C., and compared the cost of each city to those of the four California cities. To determine how many California houses could be bought in each city, the city’s median list price was divided by the California cities’ list price. All home prices were sourced from Zillow. All home prices are based on 2018 figures. 

About the Author

Gabrielle Olya

Gabrielle joined GOBankingRates in 2017 and brings with her a decade of experience in the journalism industry. Before joining the team, she was a staff writer-reporter for People Magazine and People.com. Her work has also appeared on E! Online, Us Weekly, Patch, Sweety High and Discover Los Angeles, and she has been featured on “Good Morning America” as a celebrity news expert. 

Read More