Ambulance Costs in California

How California compares

Ranked by typical ALS (emergency) base rate, California is the 1st most expensive of 51 states — pricier than 0 and cheaper than 50.

What drives the cost in California

California counties set ambulance rates within their EMS agency and exclusive-operating-area framework, and big-county rates run among the highest in the country.

We hold 39 verified provider rates for California, sourced from official fee schedules. Cities without a verified rate show a modeled estimate built from the Medicare benchmark and the typical local markup over it. How we calculate this →

Verified provider rates in California

Pulled from official municipal and county fee schedules — click a provider for the full breakdown.

• Falck (Alameda County 911 EOA)Alameda County HCSA-approved ambulance user fee schedule eff 2025-07-01, documented in City of Berkeley council adoption 2025-06-17
  $4,530
• Anaheim Fire & RescueAnaheim Fire & Rescue — Ambulance Program (Resolution 2025-057)
  $2,824–$2,744
• Hall Ambulance Service IncCMS Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners — by Provider and Service (CY2024 PUF), provider submitted (billed) charges
  $2,984–$3,347
• Big Pine Fire Protection DistrictCMS Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners — by Provider and Service (CY2024 PUF), provider submitted (billed) charges
  $1,726–$3,840
• San Diego County Fire District AmbulanceSan Diego County Fire District ambulance fees FY2025-26 (County Admin Code Sec. 369, Ord. 10937)
  $2,847–$3,743
• City Of San RafaelCMS Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners — by Provider and Service (CY2024 PUF), provider submitted (billed) charges
  $2,385–$2,422
• San Bernardino County Ambulance Rates (ICEMA)ICEMA FY2025-26 Ambulance Rate Adjustment (Policy 3060), urban operating areas
  $2,157–$2,472
• City Of DinubaCMS Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners — by Provider and Service (CY2024 PUF), provider submitted (billed) charges
  $1,600–$2,004
• City Of Glendale Finance DivisionCMS Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners — by Provider and Service (CY2024 PUF), provider submitted (billed) charges
  $2,267–$3,404
• Huntington Beach Fire DepartmentHuntington Beach FireMed — Paramedic/Ambulance Bill Schedule
  $2,155–$2,382
• Orange County (CA) Maximum Ambulance Rates (OCEMS)OCEMS Policy 714.00 Maximum Emergency Ground Ambulance Rates (BoS Res. 22-163, eff 2025-07-01)
  $2,414–$2,924
• Long Beach Fire DepartmentCity of Long Beach FY2026 Budget — Fire Department (LA County ambulance rates eff July 1, 2025)
  $2,276–$3,408

Browse cities in California

Don't see your town? Use the search above — every California city has its own cost page.

• Alameda County$4,530
• Anaheim$2,824–$2,744
• Bakersfield$2,984–$3,347
• California City$1,726–$3,840
• Chula Vista$2,847–$3,743
• Escondido$2,847–$3,743
• Fairfax$2,385–$2,422
• Fontana$2,157–$2,472
• Fremont$4,530
• Fresno$1,600–$2,004
• Glendale$2,267–$3,404
• Hayward$4,530
• Huntington Beach$2,155–$2,382
• Irvine$2,414–$2,924
• Long Beach$2,276–$3,408
• Los Angeles$1,862–$2,915
• Modesto$2,698–$3,602
• Moreno Valley$3,446
• Mountain View$4,123
• Newman$2,046–$3,123
• Newport Beach$2,414–$2,924
• Oakland$4,530
• Ontario$2,157–$2,472
• Oxnard$2,822–$3,065
• Pasadena$2,449–$3,592
• Riverside$3,446
• Sacramento$1,848–$2,070
• San Bernardino$2,157–$2,472
• San Diego$2,847–$3,743
• San Francisco$2,555
• San Jose$2,635–$3,623
• San Mateo$4,123
• Santa Ana$2,414–$2,924
• Santa Barbara$2,994–$4,606
• Santa Clara County$4,123
• Santa Clarita$2,822–$3,065
• Santa Rosa$2,919–$3,174
• Sonoma$2,931–$2,986
• Stockton$3,234–$3,838
• Sunnyvale$4,123
• Turlock$2,698–$3,602
• Ventura$2,822–$3,065