C
5%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
17%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Avenal California National
Cost of living105140100
Goods & Services105111100
Groceries107112100
Health care93109100
Housing83196100
Transportation127126100
Utilities157127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Avenal, CA

Knowing the cost of living in Avenal allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Avenal stands at 105, marking it 5% higher than the national average.

The cost of living in Avenal closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Avenal can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Avenal Affordable?

Is Avenal affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Avenal, the median home price is 21.6% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 7.1% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Avenal boasting a median household income of $49,781, 10% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Avenal?

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Avenal, is 17.2% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Avenal, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 7.25%, and income tax rates start at 1%.

Where is the Data From?

The Avenal cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Avenal is 25% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Avenal is 5% higher than the national average
  • Avenal housing is 17% lower than the national average
  • California general sales tax is 42% higher than the national average
  • California state income tax is 61% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Avenal

See all the best places to live around Avenal

Compare Avenal, CA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$67,227$5,602$1,569$2,017
      Renters$39,702$3,309$926$1,191
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Avenal, CA, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Avenal homeowners, is $67,227. This would allow for a maximum of $1,569 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $39,702 which would result in a maximum of $926 to be spent on rental costs.

      California Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      California 7.25% 10.5%

      California Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      California 1% 13.3%

      Goods & Services

      Item Avenal National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.25$24.268.2%
      Beauty Salon $89.33$45.5696.1%
      Toothpaste $3.75$3.701.3%
      Shampoo $1.48$1.2815.6%
      Movie $18.12$12.1349.4%
      Bowling $22.67$18.0025.9%

      Groceries

      Item Avenal National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.77$5.841.1%
      Fried Chicken $2.63$1.5767.0%
      Milk $4.91$4.675.0%
      Potatoes $4.90$4.930.6%
      Pizza $13.49$12.0911.6%
      Beer $11.13$10.416.9%

      Health Care

      Item Avenal National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $142.20$125.6813.1%
      Doctor $131.33$135.783.3%
      Dentist $131.50$113.2916.1%
      Ibuprofen $11.78$10.6510.6%
      Lipitor $508.17$468.608.4%

      Housing

      Item Avenal National avg. Difference
      Home Price $144,800.00$184,700.0021.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $5,847.37$2,346.69149.2%
      Apartment Rent $882.00$949.007.1%

      Transportation

      Item Avenal National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.62$3.4633.6%
      Tire Balancing $61.00$59.921.8%

      Utilities

      Item Avenal National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $231.40$193.9919.3%
      Phone $193.81$192.250.8%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Huron, CA7,0841066.3%
      Kettleman City, CA1,24511010.3%
      Coalinga, CA17,25211111.2%
      Avenal, CA13,0331055.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Fort Drum, NY13,03412020.3%
      Val-des-Monts, QC13,035n/a 
      Woodinville, WA13,03817979.4%
      Lloydminster (Part), SK13,022n/a 
      Jupiter Farms, FL13,04512929.3%
      Avenal, CA13,0331055.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.