At $6,100 per month, the San Mateo County region is among the most expensive in the state for assisted living. Only a handful of cities have higher monthly care costs, including Santa Cruz, where facilities charge approximately $6,800 per month, and Salinas, where monthly fees are the highest in the state at $7,100. Seniors seeking more affordable care options may find lower rates in Santa Maria, where fees are consistent with the statewide average at $5,000, or in San Diego, where they’re closer to the national median at $4,525. In Merced, rates are low at $3,750, and in Bakersfield, care costs are the lowest in the state at $3,613.