F
22%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
48%
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 Ceres California National
Cost of living122140100
Goods & Services104111100
Groceries104112100
Health care96109100
Housing148196100
Transportation120126100
Utilities140127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Ceres, CA

The cost of living in Ceres affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Ceres is 122, which is 22% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Ceres may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Ceres falls within this bracket.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Ceres cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 48.5% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Ceres Affordable?

Wondering if Ceres is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Ceres, for example, the median home price is 53.9% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 35.8% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Ceres boasting a median household income of $59,247, which is 7.1% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Ceres?

Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Ceres, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 7.25%, and income tax rates kick off at 1%.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Ceres, the groceries index is 3.5% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Ceres, the transportation index stands at 20% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Ceres 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 Ceres is 13% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Ceres is 22% higher than the national average
  • Ceres housing is 48% higher 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 Ceres

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Compare Ceres, 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$73,301$6,108$1,710$2,199
      Renters$43,045$3,587$1,004$1,291
      The affordability of the housing market in Ceres, CA 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 Ceres homeowners, the median income is $73,301. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,710 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $43,045. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,004 for their rent related monthly 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 Ceres National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.83$24.2610.6%
      Beauty Salon $76.57$45.5668.0%
      Toothpaste $3.86$3.704.3%
      Shampoo $1.56$1.2821.9%
      Movie $14.64$12.1320.6%
      Bowling $23.78$18.0032.1%

      Groceries

      Item Ceres National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.21$5.846.3%
      Fried Chicken $2.10$1.5733.7%
      Milk $4.99$4.676.9%
      Potatoes $4.98$4.930.9%
      Pizza $15.69$12.0929.8%
      Beer $10.96$10.415.3%

      Health Care

      Item Ceres National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $157.88$125.6825.6%
      Doctor $166.71$135.7822.8%
      Dentist $148.27$113.2930.9%
      Ibuprofen $11.69$10.659.8%
      Lipitor $498.45$468.606.4%

      Housing

      Item Ceres National avg. Difference
      Home Price $284,300.00$184,700.0053.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $4,545.90$2,346.6993.7%
      Apartment Rent $1,289.00$949.0035.8%

      Transportation

      Item Ceres National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.63$3.4633.9%
      Tire Balancing $70.51$59.9217.7%

      Utilities

      Item Ceres National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $299.78$193.9954.5%
      Phone $191.56$192.250.4%
      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.
      Monterey Park Tract, CA29311110.7%
      Cowan, CA47211110.7%
      Parklawn, CA1,8441043.6%
      Westley, CA6891044.4%
      Airport, CA1,2761055.2%
      Ceres, CA48,35512222.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Cedar Hill, TX48,3371098.5%
      Bozeman, MT48,33013433.7%
      Palm Springs, CA48,39013434.0%
      Saginaw, MI48,4078217.8%
      Rancho Santa Margarita, CA48,28017574.9%
      Ceres, CA48,35512222.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.