D+
19%
Overall NAT. AVG.
13%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
31%
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 Imperial California National
Cost of living119140100
Goods & Services113111100
Groceries116112100
Health care105109100
Housing131196100
Transportation127126100
Utilities107127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Imperial, CA

Knowing the cost of living in Imperial allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Imperial stands at 119, marking it 19% higher than the national average.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Imperial 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 30.6% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Recurring essentials like haircuts, toothpaste, and entertainment, from movies to gym sessions, can really add up in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Imperial, you you will have to spend 12.6% more than average when compared to the typical prices for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

The surge in grocery costs is indeed alarming, especially when groceries make up a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Over the past two years, there has been an inflation of over 10% in grocery prices. Unfortunately, Imperial does not fare better, with grocery expenses coming in at 15.6% higher than the national average.

Is Imperial Affordable?

Is Imperial an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Imperial, the median home price is 34.4% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 21.7% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Imperial come in at $82,133, which is 48.5% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Imperial?

Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In Imperial, 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 Imperial, the standard sales tax rate starts at 7.25%, and the income tax rates commence at 1%.

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Imperial comes in at 7.1% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Imperial 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 Imperial is 15% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Imperial is 19% higher than the national average
  • Imperial housing is 31% 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 Imperial

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Compare Imperial, 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$92,038$7,670$2,147$2,761
      Renters$43,803$3,650$1,022$1,314
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Imperial, CA, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Imperial, the median monthly income is $92,038 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $2,147 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $43,803, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $1,022 on monthly rental expenses.

      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 Imperial 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 Imperial 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 Imperial 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 Imperial National avg. Difference
      Home Price $248,200.00$184,700.0034.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $5,168.91$2,346.69120.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,155.00$949.0021.7%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Imperial 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.
      Westmorland, CA2,6801021.7%
      Seeley, CA1,8471066.0%
      Holtville, CA6,12911111.0%
      El Centro, CA43,88111111.5%
      Heber, CA8,41311211.7%
      Imperial, CA18,63111919.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Helena, AL18,6311032.9%
      Forest Park, OH18,632955.4%
      Cortland, NY18,633928.3%
      Culpeper, VA18,63311414.2%
      Creve Coeur, MO18,62712928.7%
      Imperial, CA18,63111919.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.