Flood insurance cost in California
In California, the lowest private flood insurance quote ran $479 a year and the typical private quote ran $985. The NFIP quote ran $2,031.
Private and NFIP quotes compared
Where a property was quoted both ways, the lowest private quote came in a median 76% below the NFIP quote, and private was the cheaper option for 99% of those 261 properties. The typical private quote came in 46% below NFIP.
Median annual premiums from 4,475 carrier quotes. Lowest is the cheapest private quote a property received, typical is the middle one.
By flood zone and property type
| Group | Lowest private | Typical private | NFIP | Carrier quotes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone X, B and C (moderate to low risk) | $360 | $620 | $1,326 | 1,295 |
| Zone A, AE, AH and AO (high risk) | $531 | $1,195 | $2,332 | 3,055 |
| Residential properties | $479 | $1,008 | $2,031 | 4,460 |
How quotes have moved since 2020
- Lowest private quote$413 in 2026
- Typical private quote$754 in 2026
- NFIP quote$1,860 in 2026
Dashed lines span years with too few quotes to report a figure.
* 2026 is still in progress and runs through the latest update.
| Year | Lowest private | Typical private | NFIP | Carrier quotes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $661 | $1,275 | $2,540 | 1,147 |
| 2021 | $718 | $1,466 | $2,518 | 1,094 |
| 2022 | $887 | $1,468 | n/a | 423 |
| 2023 | $539 | $1,242 | n/a | 403 |
| 2024 | $594 | $1,212 | $1,862 | 1,175 |
| 2025 | $525 | $1,206 | $2,207 | 2,173 |
| 2026* | $413 | $754 | $1,860 | 1,986 |
Counties in California
| County | Lowest private | Typical private | NFIP | Lowest private vs NFIP | Carrier quotes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara County | $500 | $1,087 | $2,750 | 79% lower | 447 |
| San Mateo County | $527 | $1,136 | $2,243 | n/a | 418 |
| Sacramento County | $453 | $874 | $968 | n/a | 326 |
Only places where at least 20 different properties were quoted in the period are listed.
See what your property is quoted
The index is a median. Your price depends on your flood zone, elevation and coverage. Compare NFIP and private carriers for your address.
Common questions
- How much does flood insurance cost in California?
- From Oct 2024 to Oct 2026, the typical private flood insurance quote in California was $985 a year and the lowest private quote a property received was $479. NFIP quotes ran $2,031. These are medians of quotes run through Insurox, not premiums paid, and your own price depends on your property.
- Is private flood insurance cheaper than NFIP in California?
- Where a property was quoted both ways, the lowest private quote came in a median 76% below the NFIP quote, and private was the cheaper option for 99% of those 261 properties. The typical private quote came in 46% below NFIP.
- How much does the flood zone change the price in California?
- Properties in high-risk A zones were quoted a typical $1,195 a year for private flood insurance, against $620 in moderate to low risk X zones. The lowest quotes ran $531 and $360.
- Where do these numbers come from?
- From 4,475 carrier quotes returned to property owners who asked for flood insurance quotes through Insurox between Oct 2024 to Oct 2026. A place is only published when at least 20 different properties were quoted there.
More about flood insurance in California
- Flood insurance in California: what it covers, who needs it and how to get quotes.
- NFIP (FEMA) flood insurance
- Private flood insurance
- Commercial flood insurance
These figures are statistics about quotes, not an offer of insurance. Read how the index is calculated or go back to the national index.