F
56%
Overall NAT. AVG.
13%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
154%
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 Chula Vista California National
Cost of living156140100
Goods & Services113111100
Groceries116112100
Health care105109100
Housing254196100
Transportation127126100
Utilities107127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Chula Vista, CA

Understanding the cost of living in Chula Vista can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Chula Vista cost of living index is 156, which is 56% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

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 Chula Vista 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, Chula Vista 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 Chula Vista 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 154.2% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

The things you purchase regularly, like clothes, haircuts, movie tickets and gym memberships, can make a big dent in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. Unfortunately in Chula Vista, these items will cost you 12.6% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

The substantial and relentless rise in grocery prices definitely warrants some attention. Over the past two years, grocery expenses have escalated by more than 10%. Having said that, the situation in Chula Vista is even less favorable, with grocery prices here being 15.6% higher than the national average.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Chula Vista?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 8 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Chula Vista and this is how they responded. 38% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 63% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Chula Vista Affordable?

Is Chula Vista 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 Chula Vista, for instance, where the median home price falls 185.1% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 82.2% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Chula Vista flaunting a median household income of $86,132, 55.7% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Chula Vista?

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Chula Vista, the transportation index is 27% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday goods and services, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Chula Vista, the standard sales tax rate starts at 7.25%, and the income tax rates commence at 1%.

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 Chula Vista, the utilities index registers at 7.1% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Chula Vista 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 Chula Vista is 12% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Chula Vista is 56% higher than the national average
  • Chula Vista housing is 154% 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 Chula Vista

See all the best places to live around Chula Vista

Compare Chula Vista, 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$110,025$9,169$2,567$3,301
      Renters$54,578$4,548$1,273$1,638
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Chula Vista, 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 Chula Vista homeowners, is $110,025. This would allow for a maximum of $2,567 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $54,578 which would result in a maximum of $1,273 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 Chula Vista National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.92$24.2610.9%
      Beauty Salon $65.77$45.5644.3%
      Toothpaste $3.73$3.700.7%
      Shampoo $1.50$1.2817.1%
      Movie $16.89$12.1339.2%
      Bowling $24.67$18.0037.1%

      Groceries

      Item Chula Vista National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.47$5.846.3%
      Fried Chicken $3.05$1.5793.7%
      Milk $4.98$4.676.5%
      Potatoes $4.94$4.930.0%
      Pizza $14.69$12.0921.5%
      Beer $11.25$10.418.1%

      Health Care

      Item Chula Vista National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $138.66$125.6810.3%
      Doctor $132.50$135.782.4%
      Dentist $121.37$113.297.1%
      Ibuprofen $12.01$10.6512.7%
      Lipitor $508.17$468.608.4%

      Housing

      Item Chula Vista National avg. Difference
      Home Price $526,500.00$184,700.00185.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $5,168.91$2,346.69120.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,729.00$949.0082.2%

      Transportation

      Item Chula Vista National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.68$3.4635.1%
      Tire Balancing $64.40$59.927.5%

      Utilities

      Item Chula Vista National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $223.42$193.9915.2%
      Phone $180.31$192.256.2%
      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.
      Spring Valley CDP (Lake County), CA1,1541055.2%
      Bostonia, CA17,53213939.2%
      National City, CA61,34214140.6%
      Lakeside, CA21,03214444.0%
      La Presa, CA37,41014444.1%
      Chula Vista, CA268,77915656.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Fort Wayne, IN268,3789010.3%
      Irvine, CA272,69419898.4%
      St. Petersburg, FL264,0011043.8%
      Jersey City, NJ262,65214343.4%
      Toledo, OH275,1168713.2%
      Chula Vista, CA268,77915656.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.