Lodi Cost of Living: 2020-2025
Overview
The cost of living in Lodi has increased by 21.7% over the past five years, with total monthly basic costs rising from $2,598 in 2020 to $3,163 in 2025—an additional $565 per month. While this increase is below the national inflation rate of 24.8% and the California inflation rate of 24-26%, Lodi residents have faced spikes in utility costs, particularly for natural gas and electricity, which have become the primary drivers of increased living expenses.
Lodi Cost Of Living Trends 2020-2025
Major Cost Drivers
Top Three Categories by Percentage Increase:
1. PG&E Natural Gas: +99.0% (+$44/month)
Monthly cost increased from $45 to $89
Rate per therm rose from $1.45 to $2.885
January 2025 alone saw an 8.6% increase
Primary drivers: Pipeline safety improvements, general rate case increases
2. Transportation/Gas Costs: +60.8% (+$73/month)
Monthly gas expenses rose from $120 to $193
Average gas price increased from $2.85 to $4.59 per gallon
Recent spikes due to refinery disruptions and seasonal fuel transitions
3. Lodi Electric Utility: +47.4% (+$28/month)
Monthly bills increased from $58 to $86
Customer charge rose from $10.50 to $14.50
Energy rate increased from ~$0.095 to ~$0.142 per kWh
Rate increases implemented in 2023 and 2024 for infrastructure investment
Monthly Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 2020 Cost | 2025 Cost | Dollar Increase | Percent Increase |
| Housing (Rent) | $1,350 | $1,481 | +$131 | +9.7% |
| PG&E Natural Gas | $45 | $89 | +$44 | +99.0% |
| Lodi Electric | $58 | $86 | +$28 | +47.4% |
| Food & Groceries | $450 | $572 | +$122 | +27.1% |
| Transportation/Gas | $120 | $193 | +$73 | +60.8% |
| Healthcare Insurance | $450 | $580 | +$130 | +28.9% |
| Vehicle Insurance | $125 | $162 | +$37 | +29.6% |
| **Total Monthly** | **$2,598** | **$3,163** | **+$565** | **+21.7%** |
Utility Costs: The Primary Driver
Lodi Electric Utility
Lodi's municipal electric utility, while still offering rates approximately 30% lower than neighboring PG&E, implemented significant rate increases[1]:
2023: First major increase to address deferred maintenance and capital infrastructure needs
2024: Additional increases for debt service coverage and reserve requirements
Infrastructure projects: 230 kV Interconnection Project financing requirements
Future outlook: Rate increases projected to continue through 2030 for grid modernization[1]
PG&E Natural Gas
Natural gas costs nearly doubled over the five-year period[3]:
2020 WMCE Recovery: Two-year program for wildfire mitigation costs ended in 2025
Pipeline Safety: Extensive investments in transmission pipeline inspection and integrity testing
General Rate Case: 2023-2026 rate case included major gas system safety enhancements
Regulatory costs: Advanced leak detection technology and pressure testing programs
Housing Market Volatility
Housing costs in Lodi showed significant volatility but ended with a modest overall increase[5][7]:
2020-2022: Dramatic 17% increase driven by pandemic-era market conditions
2023: Continued upward pressure reaching $1,898/month average rent
2024-2025: Market correction with rent declining to $1,481/month
Home prices: Similar pattern with median home prices dropping from peak of $719,740 to $584,500
Lodi vs. California vs. National Comparison
| Metric | Lodi 2025 | California Average | US Average |
| Cost of Living Index | 119% of US average | 130-140% of US average | 100% baseline |
| Average Electric Bill | $86/month | $258/month | $140/month |
| Average Gas Bill | $89/month | $89/month | $69/month |
| Median Rent | $1,481/month | $2,500+/month | $1,470/month |
| Overall Inflation (2020-2025) | 21.7% total | 24-26% total | 24.8% total |
Key Findings:
Lodi electricity costs remain 67% below the California average[8]
Natural gas costs match California average but are 29% above national average
Rent remains competitive, nearly identical to national average
Overall cost of living increase was below both state and national averages
Food and Transportation Trends
Food Costs (+27.1%)
Food inflation in Lodi followed national trends[10]:
2020-2021: Modest increases during pandemic
2022: Sharp 9.9% spike due to supply chain disruptions
2023: Continued elevated prices from Russia-Ukraine war impacts
2024-2025: Moderation to 2-3% annual increases
Transportation (+60.8%)
Gas price volatility was driven by multiple factors[12]:
Refinery disruptions: Martinez Refinery explosion in February 2025
Seasonal transitions: Summer fuel blend requirements
Regulatory costs: Low-carbon fuel standards
Geopolitical factors: Tariff uncertainties on crude oil imports
Economic Impact on Households
With a median household income of $84,402 in Lodi[14], the additional $565 monthly cost represents a 8.0% reduction in disposable income. This impact is particularly significant for:
Fixed-income residents: Utility cost increases are unavoidable
Commuters: Transportation cost increases affect daily budgets
Renters: Less control over energy efficiency improvements
Future Outlook and Recommendations
Expected Trends (2025-2030)
Electricity: Continued rate increases for grid modernization and infrastructure
Natural gas: Ongoing safety-related cost recovery programs
Housing: Market stabilization expected but supply constraints remain
Overall inflation: Projected to moderate toward 2-3% annually
Cost Mitigation Strategies
Energy efficiency: Lodi Electric offers residential rebate programs
Solar adoption: Net metering programs available with 8.31¢/kWh credit rate[16]
Transportation: Consider electric vehicle adoption with Lodi's competitive electric rates
Housing: Monitor market for potential buying opportunities during current correction
The analysis shows that while Lodi has maintained its affordability advantage relative to California averages, utility cost increases have significantly impacted household budgets, with energy-related expenses becoming the primary driver of cost-of-living increases over the past five years.
Sources
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[3] How three new rate hikes will impact your PG&E bill https://www.sfchronicle.com/climate/article/pge-rate-hikes-2025-19993571.php
[4] Cost of Living in Lodi, CA | Flyhomes https://flyhomes.com/cost-of-living/lodi--ca
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[7] Current California Census Data - Lodi Demographics https://www.california-demographics.com/lodi-demographics
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[10] California Housing Affordability Tracker (2nd Quarter 2025) https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/793
[11] [PDF] EP Credit Rate History - City of Lodi https://www.lodi.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7614/Solar-and-Electric-Vehicle-Charging-Rates-Eff-7-01-2024
[12] General Rate Case (GRC) | PG&E https://www.pge.com/en/regulation/general-rate-case.html
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[52] lodi_cost_of_living_2020_2025.csv https://ppl-ai-code-interpreter-files.s3.amazonaws.com/web/direct-files/e3c84340e328828186fdbadf85c07be0/569d334c-818c-4f55-9533-d461fbef2da1/8e11b577.csv
[53] us_inflation_comparison_2020_2025.csv https://ppl-ai-code-interpreter-files.s3.amazonaws.com/web/direct-files/e3c84340e328828186fdbadf85c07be0/569d334c-818c-4f55-9533-d461fbef2da1/532721d7.csv
[54] lodi_cost_drivers_summary_2020_2025.csv https://ppl-ai-code-interpreter-files.s3.amazonaws.com/web/direct-files/e3c84340e328828186fdbadf85c07be0/37dc04a9-e47f-42dc-9ace-587618938670/d3744a3c.csv