F
44%
Overall NAT. AVG.
13%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
114%
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 Lakeside California National
Cost of living144140100
Goods & Services113111100
Groceries116112100
Health care105109100
Housing214196100
Transportation127126100
Utilities107127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Lakeside, CA

The cost of living in Lakeside 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 Lakeside is 144, which is 44% 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 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 Lakeside 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, Lakeside falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Lakeside, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 114.1% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, 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 Lakeside, these items will cost you 12.6% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

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 Lakeside, the news isn't any better as grocery prices are 15.6% higher than the national average.

Is Lakeside Affordable?

Is Lakeside 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 Lakeside, the median home price is 139.9% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 53.8% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Lakeside boasting a median household income of $80,318, 45.2% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Lakeside?

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 Lakeside, the transportation index is 27% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Lakeside, the housing index comes in at 114.1% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Lakeside displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Lakeside is 3% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Lakeside is 44% higher than the national average
  • Lakeside housing is 114% 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 Lakeside

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Compare Lakeside, 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$100,081$8,340$2,335$3,003
      Renters$55,914$4,660$1,305$1,678
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Lakeside is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Lakeside has a median income of about $100,081 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,335 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $55,914. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,305 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Lakeside 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 Lakeside 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 Lakeside 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 Lakeside National avg. Difference
      Home Price $443,100.00$184,700.00139.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $5,168.91$2,346.69120.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,460.00$949.0053.8%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Lakeside 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%
      La Presa, CA37,41014444.1%
      Winter Gardens, CA22,78514444.3%
      Lakeside, CA21,03214444.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Shenandoah, LA21,0451088.1%
      Chambersburg, PA21,017991.4%
      DeBary, FL21,0531055.3%
      Eustis, FL21,010955.1%
      Holiday, FL21,0068713.2%
      Lakeside, CA21,03214444.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.