These Are The Cheapest Beach Towns in California

Whatever your mood is, there’s a Golden State beach town with your name on it—consider this the state’s not-so-secret talent. If action-packed fun in the scorching sun is how you like to roll, SoCal’s coastal beauties are exactly where you need to be. And alternatively, if you’re the kind of person that seeks tranquility in nature’s hidden gems, NorCal practically specializes in secluded stretches tailor-fit for beachcombing, exploring, or simply collecting your thoughts. 

Should you decide to move close to the shore—a dream we have in common—a look at the cheapest beach towns in California is likely going to speed up that process.

The Cheapest Beach Towns in California 

1. Crescent City

Median home price: $309,070

Crescent City is the seat of sparkling Del Norte County. Located about 20 miles south of the Oregon border, it breaks any and every conviction you have of an inexpensive beach town in California. Its stunning coastal beauty makes it a great weekend getaway and comes paired with a diverse variety of weather patterns—this is unheard of in the bottom portion of the state—it can keep everyone hot or cool; literally and figuratively.

2. Ventura

Median home price: $800,210

Situated between Carpinteria and Oxnard, Ventura is a working harbor, fishing marina, and coastal oasis filled with shops, galleries, restaurants, and waterfront activities. Expect to stand-up paddleboard and jet ski with sea lions and uncover a mesmerizing beach cove alongside surfers—all of this a stone’s throw from Channel Islands National Park, aka “The American Galapagos.”

3. Arcata

Median home price: $443,240

It’s no secret that NorCal is home to dozens of ‘hippie towns’ that resemble a time capsule into the sixties. But Arcata might just be the biggest hippie town of them all. First established in 1858 as Union, the city got its official name (translating from Yurok to “where there is a lagoon”) in 1860. With expansive forests, an easy-going lifestyle, and vibrant flower beds wherever you look, it’s almost hard to believe that Arcata is one of the cheapest beach cities in California.

4. Oxnard

Median home price: $669,810

Crowned as the new Malibu by entertainment bigwigs, Oxnard is one of the cheapest beach cities in California. This Ventura County spot is notable for the things it doesn’t have—high-priced restaurants, wallet-breaking boutiques, or a “you can’t afford this” vibe. But what it does have is a smattering of international food, a great stock of contemporary Airbnb homes smack dab in the middle of the beach, and trails that serpent all over the county.

5. Capitola 

Median home price: $1,127,960

Located in Santa Cruz County on the Monterey Bay coast, Capitola is a breathtakingly scenic beach town that is well-known for being one of the state's oldest and most reasonably priced (for renters) beach towns. Capitola is the ideal seaside getaway, full of charming bridges, vibrant architecture, and a unique blend of eateries and shops.

Inexpensive Places to Live in California Near the Beach

6. Huntington Beach

Median home price: $1,103,560

Though not exactly the smallest beach town—it boasts around 200,000 residents—Huntington exudes coolness across its nearly 10 miles of sandy flat beach. Thanks to the currents flowing in from Catalina, Huntington Beach has slamming waves; a similar adjective can be used to describe its economy as well. And while the median home prices are not exactly the cheapest, renting here is more than affordable.

7. Avila Beach

Median home price: $1,188,190

If you want to live close to the beach, Avila Beach, a picture-perfect neighborhood in San Luis Obispo County, is among the most reasonably priced areas to live in California (renters don't really care about median property prices however). Its shorelines host a variety of summertime events, including large-scale concerts, farmers markets brimming with the freshest vegetables, and mouthwatering culinary adventures. However, regardless of the noise in the neighborhood, fisherman are constantly bringing in their daily catch on the Port San Luis Pier—it's a hallmark of Avila Beach.

8. Fort Bragg

Median home price: $512,700

Located on the Mendocino coast's northern tip, Fort Bragg has seen numerous changes over the years, but now days it's known for being one of California's most affordable beach towns. Fort Bragg, which was once a timber town and a military stronghold, is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in the state, and with good reason. The region is home to a beach that is practically covered with sparkling glass, as well as a dramatic, rocky shoreline that instantly knocks you flat.

9. Dana Point

Median home price: $1,347,910

Who would’ve thought that one of the most affordable beach towns to rent in Southern California is also a sailing hotbed? There are slips for more than 2,500 boats in Dana Point. There’s also romantic coasting that includes Headlands, the signature promontory overlooking Dana Point Harbor. With wide flat beaches made for long walks, parasailing, windsurfing, and boogie boarding, Dana Point proves that life is happier when you’re living by the beach.