F
36%
Overall NAT. AVG.
9%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
107%
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 Catalina Foothills Arizona National
Cost of living136101100
Goods & Services109104100
Groceries105102100
Health care9094100
Housing20797100
Transportation108106100
Utilities10295100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Catalina Foothills, AZ

Knowing the cost of living in Catalina Foothills 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 Catalina Foothills stands at 136, marking it 36% higher than the national average.

If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Catalina Foothills is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Catalina Foothills falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Catalina Foothills cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 106.7% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Catalina Foothills Affordable?

Is Catalina Foothills an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Catalina Foothills, the median home price is 145.4% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 16.4% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Catalina Foothills come in at $95,589, which is 72.8% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Catalina Foothills?

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Catalina Foothills, the utilities index registers at 1.8% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, 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 farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.

Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Catalina Foothills 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. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Catalina Foothills is 35% higher than the Arizona average
  • The cost of living in Catalina Foothills is 36% higher than the national average
  • Catalina Foothills housing is 107% higher 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 Catalina Foothills

See all the best places to live around Catalina Foothills

Compare Catalina Foothills, 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$120,423$10,035$2,810$3,613
      Renters$55,849$4,654$1,303$1,676
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Catalina Foothills, AZ, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Catalina Foothills, the median monthly income is $120,423 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $2,810 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $55,849, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $1,303 on monthly rental expenses.

      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 Catalina Foothills National avg. Difference
      Haircut $29.15$24.2620.2%
      Beauty Salon $45.06$45.561.1%
      Toothpaste $3.64$3.701.8%
      Shampoo $1.33$1.284.1%
      Movie $12.36$12.131.9%
      Bowling $13.68$18.0024.0%

      Groceries

      Item Catalina Foothills National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.07$5.844.0%
      Fried Chicken $1.41$1.5710.3%
      Milk $4.75$4.671.7%
      Potatoes $4.58$4.937.1%
      Pizza $12.52$12.093.6%
      Beer $11.13$10.416.9%

      Health Care

      Item Catalina Foothills National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $116.73$125.687.1%
      Doctor $125.31$135.787.7%
      Dentist $101.61$113.2910.3%
      Ibuprofen $11.03$10.653.6%
      Lipitor $370.51$468.6020.9%

      Housing

      Item Catalina Foothills National avg. Difference
      Home Price $453,200.00$184,700.00145.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,328.25$2,346.690.8%
      Apartment Rent $1,105.00$949.0016.4%

      Transportation

      Item Catalina Foothills National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.05$3.4617.0%
      Tire Balancing $52.24$59.9212.8%

      Utilities

      Item Catalina Foothills National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $198.69$193.992.4%
      Phone $193.20$192.250.5%
      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.
      Summerhaven, AZ351065.9%
      Willow Canyon, AZ01065.9%
      Flowing Wells, AZ17,2278712.8%
      Littletown, AZ645918.7%
      South Tucson, AZ5,692928.4%
      Catalina Foothills, AZ50,63113636.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Collierville, TN50,59611616.0%
      Joplin, MO50,5808712.7%
      Madison, AL50,7171088.1%
      Methuen Town, MA50,51813333.5%
      Hoffman Estates, IL50,46411918.7%
      Catalina Foothills, AZ50,63113636.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.