Californians are fleeingthe Golden Statein search of cheaper living, as soaring food, gas and housing costs are laid bare in a damning new report.
A study by the California Policy Lab analyzed credit data from 2016 to 2025 and found that residents who move out typically land in far more affordable areas.
All signs suggest California is fast becoming a playground for the wealthy, researchers warn.
On average, those who leave save about $672 each month on housing alone.
“We expected to see people moving to cheaper locations in other states, but our analysis showed the average costs dropping by nearly $400,000, that’s a key data point for families who want to become homeowners,” Evan White, executive director of the California Policy Lab,told Fox Business.
“The likelihood of becoming ahomeowner increased by nearly 50%for those who left California. That’s a big difference,” White added.
Even inCalifornia’s so-called affordable areas, the price tag remains steep, with residents paying 11% more for groceries, 40% more for gas and 61% more for utilities than the national average.
Most movers aren’t going far; Nevada tops the list of destinations, followed by Idaho, Oregon and Arizona.
Those leaving California are often lower-income residents struggling to keep up with soaring costs, but discovering a more manageable life once they settle elsewhere.
Since the pandemic, the share of residents leaving the state’s higher-income communities has jumped to 19%, according to theCalifornia Policy Lab.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
