F
105%
Overall NAT. AVG.
20%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
294%
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 Daly City California National
Cost of living205140100
Goods & Services120111100
Groceries123112100
Health care125109100
Housing394196100
Transportation132126100
Utilities136127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Daly City, CA

The cost of living in Daly City 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 Daly City is 205, which is 105% 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, Daly City 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, Daly City falls within this bracket.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Daly City 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 293.6% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, 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, Daly City goods and services are 19.9% 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 Daly City, the news isn't any better as grocery prices are 22.5% higher than the national average.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Daly City?

Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 6 residents in Daly City to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 17% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 83% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.

Is Daly City Affordable?

Is Daly City 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 Daly City, for instance, where the median home price falls 361.2% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 136% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Daly City flaunting a median household income of $99,910, 80.6% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Daly City?

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.

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 Daly City, the transportation index is 31.5% higher than the national average.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Daly City, the utilities index is 35.8% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Daly City, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Daly City is 47% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Daly City is 105% higher than the national average
  • Daly City housing is 294% 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 Daly City

See all the best places to live around Daly City

Compare Daly City, 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$120,569$10,047$2,813$3,617
      Renters$76,099$6,342$1,776$2,283
      The affordability of the housing market in Daly City, 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 Daly City homeowners, the median income is $120,569. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $2,813 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $76,099. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,776 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 Daly City National avg. Difference
      Haircut $28.38$24.2617.0%
      Beauty Salon $85.43$45.5687.5%
      Toothpaste $4.09$3.7010.4%
      Shampoo $1.65$1.2829.1%
      Movie $16.02$12.1332.0%
      Bowling $24.01$18.0033.4%

      Groceries

      Item Daly City National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.23$5.846.7%
      Fried Chicken $2.11$1.5734.1%
      Milk $5.18$4.6710.9%
      Potatoes $4.98$4.930.9%
      Pizza $15.74$12.0930.2%
      Beer $11.21$10.417.6%

      Health Care

      Item Daly City National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $159.79$125.6827.1%
      Doctor $174.45$135.7828.5%
      Dentist $155.36$113.2937.1%
      Ibuprofen $11.30$10.656.1%
      Lipitor $498.84$468.606.5%

      Housing

      Item Daly City National avg. Difference
      Home Price $851,800.00$184,700.00361.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $7,224.18$2,346.69207.8%
      Apartment Rent $2,240.00$949.00136.0%

      Transportation

      Item Daly City National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.63$3.4633.9%
      Tire Balancing $75.33$59.9225.7%

      Utilities

      Item Daly City National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $298.77$193.9954.0%
      Phone $203.63$192.255.9%
      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.
      Strawberry CDP (Tuolumne County), CA11612524.6%
      Emeryville, CA11,67916968.9%
      Oakland, CA422,57518281.6%
      Marin City, CA3,040201101.1%
      Colma, CA1,492203103.2%
      Daly City, CA107,197205105.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Highlands Ranch, CO107,01714646.5%
      Greeley, CO107,44511111.2%
      Lewisville, TX107,74011615.8%
      Jurupa Valley, CA106,64613535.4%
      Meridian, ID107,78711818.2%
      Daly City, CA107,197205105.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.