A+
12%
Overall NAT. AVG.
17%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
16%
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 Bullhead City Arizona National
Cost of living88101100
Goods & Services83104100
Groceries100102100
Health care9294100
Housing8497100
Transportation99106100
Utilities8795100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Bullhead City, AZ

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Bullhead City is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Bullhead City is 88, which is 12% lower than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

Everyday basics like clothes, personal care items and entertainment factor into your overall living costs. But here's the good news: in Bullhead City, these things are 17.4% more affordable than the national average. So, you can get what you need and have fun without emptying your wallet. With these savings, you can stash more money in your savings or put it towards other financial goals, ultimately improving your financial health.

Is Bullhead City Affordable?

Is Bullhead City affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Bullhead City, for instance, where the median home price falls 17.7% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 13.1% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Bullhead City flaunting a median household income of $43,442, 21.5% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Bullhead City?

Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.

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: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Bullhead City, the housing index comes in at 16.3% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Bullhead City 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 Bullhead City is 13% lower than the Arizona average
  • The cost of living in Bullhead City is 12% lower than the national average
  • Bullhead City housing is 16% lower than the national average
  • Arizona general sales tax is 10% higher than the national average
  • Arizona state income tax is 4% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Bullhead City

See all the best places to live around Bullhead City

Compare Bullhead City, AZ 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$47,886$3,991$1,117$1,437
      Renters$36,891$3,074$861$1,107
      The affordability of the housing market in Bullhead City, AZ as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Bullhead City homeowners, the median income is $47,886. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,117 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $36,891. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $861 for their rent related monthly costs.

      Arizona Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Arizona 5.6% 10.725%

      Arizona Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Arizona 2.5% 2.5%

      Goods & Services

      Item Bullhead City National avg. Difference
      Haircut $30.00$24.2623.7%
      Beauty Salon $45.83$45.560.6%
      Toothpaste $3.41$3.708.0%
      Shampoo $1.35$1.285.4%
      Movie $13.08$12.137.8%
      Bowling $27.50$18.0052.8%

      Groceries

      Item Bullhead City National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.14$5.845.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.46$1.577.0%
      Milk $4.89$4.674.7%
      Potatoes $4.66$4.935.6%
      Pizza $14.82$12.0922.6%
      Beer $11.30$10.418.5%

      Health Care

      Item Bullhead City National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $169.83$125.6835.1%
      Doctor $136.00$135.780.2%
      Dentist $124.17$113.299.6%
      Ibuprofen $11.20$10.655.1%
      Lipitor $521.56$468.6011.3%

      Housing

      Item Bullhead City National avg. Difference
      Home Price $152,100.00$184,700.0017.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,416.09$2,346.6945.6%
      Apartment Rent $825.00$949.0013.1%

      Transportation

      Item Bullhead City National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.93$3.4613.4%
      Tire Balancing $72.35$59.9220.8%

      Utilities

      Item Bullhead City National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $145.78$193.9924.9%
      Phone $185.71$192.253.4%
      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.
      Oatman, AZ438910.7%
      Mojave Ranch Estates, AZ88910.7%
      Katherine, AZ1188910.7%
      Willow Valley, AZ6908217.6%
      Mesquite Creek, AZ5178712.7%
      Bullhead City, AZ40,8088812.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Wilkes-Barre, PA40,8058613.9%
      Buffalo Grove, IL40,80412727.3%
      Cedar Falls, IA40,750936.5%
      Bartlett, IL40,89412121.4%
      Brant, ON40,692n/a 
      Bullhead City, AZ40,8088812.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.