F
71%
Overall NAT. AVG.
12%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
212%
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 Claremont California National
Cost of living171140100
Goods & Services112111100
Groceries113112100
Health care99109100
Housing312196100
Transportation124126100
Utilities94127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Claremont, CA

Understanding the cost of living in Claremont 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 Claremont cost of living index is 171, which is 71% 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 you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Claremont 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, Claremont falls within this bracket.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Claremont 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 211.7% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, 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 Claremont, these items will cost you 12% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

The relentless increase in grocery prices is a noteworthy trend. In the last two years, grocery costs have experienced an upward trajectory of over 10%. Unfortunately, Claremont is no exception, where grocery prices are 13.1% above the national average.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Claremont?

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 6 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Claremont. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 83% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 17% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Claremont Affordable?

Is Claremont 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 Claremont, the median home price is 272.8% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 69% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Claremont boasting a median household income of $101,080, 82.7% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Claremont?

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from 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 crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Claremont, the groceries index is 13.1% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Claremont starts at 7.25% and the income tax rates start at 1%.

Where is the Data From?

The Claremont 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 Claremont is 22% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Claremont is 71% higher than the national average
  • Claremont housing is 212% 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 Claremont

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Compare Claremont, CA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

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      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$134,034$11,170$3,127$4,021
      Renters$61,922$5,160$1,445$1,858
      The affordability of the housing market in Claremont, 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 Claremont homeowners, the median income is $134,034. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $3,127 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $61,922. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,445 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 Claremont National avg. Difference
      Haircut $27.27$24.2612.4%
      Beauty Salon $41.78$45.568.3%
      Toothpaste $3.61$3.702.6%
      Shampoo $1.34$1.284.9%
      Movie $11.04$12.139.0%
      Bowling $21.11$18.0017.3%

      Groceries

      Item Claremont National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.89$5.840.8%
      Fried Chicken $3.49$1.57121.9%
      Milk $4.92$4.675.4%
      Potatoes $4.92$4.930.3%
      Pizza $15.31$12.0926.6%
      Beer $10.26$10.411.4%

      Health Care

      Item Claremont National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $112.92$125.6810.2%
      Doctor $95.50$135.7829.7%
      Dentist $117.28$113.293.5%
      Ibuprofen $10.58$10.650.7%
      Lipitor $521.17$468.6011.2%

      Housing

      Item Claremont National avg. Difference
      Home Price $688,600.00$184,700.00272.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,441.43$2,346.694.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,604.00$949.0069.0%

      Transportation

      Item Claremont National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.75$3.4637.3%
      Tire Balancing $61.38$59.922.4%

      Utilities

      Item Claremont National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $378.97$193.9995.4%
      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.
      Lytle Creek, CA65612626.5%
      Industry, CA26413333.1%
      Fontana, CA212,70413535.1%
      Jurupa Valley, CA106,64613535.4%
      Montclair, CA40,04113635.5%
      Claremont, CA35,61017170.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Princeton, FL35,56411817.7%
      Randallstown, MD35,66111413.6%
      La Vergne, TN35,5561000.5%
      Parkland County, AB35,675n/a 
      South Miami Heights, FL35,68311413.5%
      Claremont, CA35,61017170.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.