F
22%
Overall NAT. AVG.
12%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
49%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
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 Colton California National
Cost of living122140100
Goods & Services112111100
Groceries113112100
Health care99109100
Housing149196100
Transportation124126100
Utilities94127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Colton, CA

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Colton 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 Colton is 122, which is 22% higher 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.

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 Colton 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, Colton falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

When it comes to the cost of living in Colton, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 49.1% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

Everyday goods and services make up 33% of the cost of living index and include things like clothing, personal hygiene products and entertainment which are a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Unfortunately, Colton goods and services are 12% more expensive than the national average, leaving you with less money at the end of the month.

The cost of groceries continues to rise at an alarming rate. Over the last two years, grocery prices have increased by more than 10%! Unfortunately, in Colton, the news isn't any better as grocery prices are 13.1% higher than the national average.

Is Colton Affordable?

Is Colton 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 Colton, the median home price is 58.3% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 27.8% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Colton boasting a median household income of $56,762, 2.6% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Colton?

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Colton, the transportation index is 23.9% higher than the national average.

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 Colton, 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 Colton starts at 7.25% and the income tax rates start at 1%.

Where is the Data From?

The Colton 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.

New Real Estate Listings in Colton Area
Search Homes for Sale in Colton, CA

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Colton is 12% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Colton is 22% higher than the national average
  • Colton housing is 49% 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 Colton

See all the best places to live around Colton

Compare Colton, CA Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in Colton?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Colton?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Colton poll results

      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$73,403$6,117$1,713$2,202
      Renters$42,351$3,529$988$1,271
      The affordability of the housing market in Colton, 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 Colton homeowners, the median income is $73,403. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,713 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $42,351. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $988 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 Colton 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 Colton 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 Colton 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 Colton National avg. Difference
      Home Price $292,300.00$184,700.0058.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,441.43$2,346.694.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,213.00$949.0027.8%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Colton 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.
      Crestline, CA9,35111918.8%
      San Bernardino, CA216,78411918.9%
      Running Springs, CA4,41012019.9%
      Muscoy, CA11,54612020.5%
      Mentone, CA10,14112423.7%
      Colton, CA54,21512222.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Mount Prospect, IL54,16512221.6%
      Grapevine, TX54,15112525.2%
      Tigard, OR54,14913838.1%
      Rocky Mount, NC54,3308911.1%
      Decatur, AL54,3448811.9%
      Colton, CA54,21512222.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.