The cost of assisted living in California varies dramatically through out the state.  Prices tend to be higher in the urban areas and less costly in the rural counties.  This is especially true among the urban coastal cities of Los Angeles, San Diego and the San Francisco Bay Area, where one can expect to pay $4,500 - $6,000 per month.

The good news for Californians seeking more affordable assisted living / memory care communities is that simply by relocating an hour or two off the coast can decrease the monthly cost by several thousand dollars.  California’s Central Valley has some of the least costly senior living residences in the state.  Residents of Fresno, Stanislaus, Kern and San Joaquin counties can expect costs closer to the US national average, of approximately $3,500 - $4,500 per month.

The northern counties and those bordering Oregon lack the population density and therefore have very few, if any, assisted living options.  The exception to this is Shasta and Tehama counties which both have multiple assisted living residences and fairly affordable ones at that.

The Inland Empire counties of Riverside and San Bernardino also offer a wider selection of less expensive communities for both assisted living and memory / dementia care.   While the driving and traffic in these areas can be challenging, these counties do offer more affordable options for Southern California residents who live nearer the SoCal coast.

Finally, families living around the Lake Tahoe area might consider looking for residences in the Sacramento area or even going over the border to Reno, Nevada.  Both of these cities offer more options and greater savings as the high real estate, high altitude and cold climate of the mountains discourage the development of senior living communities in that area.