California is home to 15 of the nation’s 25 costliest metropolitan areas.

My trusty spreadsheet reviewed the annual “price parity” report from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, which gives us a snapshot of relative differences in the cost of living between 384 metropolitan areas across the nation in 2023 — including 26 from California.

This inflation math is based on both price and spending swings, and is part of the Federal Reserve’s favorite inflation gauge — the “PCE” or Personal Consumption Expenditures rate.

This is not a surprise, rather another stark reminder of the state’s biggest economic challenge — the cost of living here.

The nation’s most expensive metro? San Francisco, where it costs 18.2% more than the typical U.S. metro.

Why? Of course, it’s housing expenses. San Franciscans pay double the national norm, with utilities running 58% higher.

The second-priciest metro in the U.S. is the region comprising Los Angeles and Orange counties, with a cost of living that’s 15.5% above what a typical American pays. Housing is 73% costlier and utilities are 35% higher.

Pressure points

Consider the other 13 California metros high on the costliest places to live scorecard — a collection of big, coastal metros.

Ventura County: Costs 13.5% more than typical U.S. expenses, tied for third-highest nationwide. Housing runs 78% above U.S. costs with utilities 30% pricier.

Santa Barbara: Also No. 3 at 13.5% above normal, with housing 76% above the U.S. and utilities 28% costlier.

Salinas: 13% above (No. 5) — housing 67% above U.S., utilities 35% higher.

San Jose: 12.9% above (No. 7) — housing 113% above U.S., utilities 35% higher.

Santa Cruz: 12.6% above (No. 8) — housing 75% above U.S., utilities 34% higher.

Napa: 11.8% above (No. 10) — housing 62% above U.S., utilities 39% higher.

San Diego: 11.5% above (No. 13) — housing 86% above U.S., utilities 54% higher.

San Luis Obispo: 10.8% above (No. 14) — housing 50% above U.S., utilities 27% higher.

Santa Rosa: 10.1% above (No. 16) — housing 47% above U.S., utilities 36% higher.

Vallejo: 9.2% above (No. 18) — housing 36% above U.S., utilities 36% higher.

Sacramento: 8.9% above (No. 19) — housing 34% above U.S., utilities 33% higher.

Inland Empire: 7.9% above (No. 21) — housing 32% above U.S., utilities 57% higher.

Stockton: 7.4% above (No. 23) — housing 20% above U.S., utilities 39% higher.

Painful reality

California’s cheapest place to live still has the nation’s 89th highest cost of living among the 384 metros tracked.

Living in Hanford, a Central Valley farm community, is 1.6% cheaper than the national norm. Its housing expenses run 31% below the typical U.S. metro, by this math. But its utility prices are 39% higher than the national norm.

Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com.