D
15%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
24%
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 Madera California National
Cost of living115140100
Goods & Services104111100
Groceries104112100
Health care96109100
Housing124196100
Transportation120126100
Utilities140127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Madera, CA

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Madera 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 Madera is 115, which is 15% 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.

Housing costs significantly influence the Madera cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 24.1%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

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

Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 5 residents in Madera 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? 40% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 60% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.

Is Madera Affordable?

Is Madera 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 Madera, the median home price is 28.6% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 13.7% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Madera come in at $49,335, which is 10.8% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Madera?

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Madera, the utilities index registers 40.4% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Madera, healthcare costs are 4.1% lower than the national average.

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 Madera, the housing index comes in at 24.1% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Madera 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. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Madera is 18% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Madera is 15% higher than the national average
  • Madera housing is 24% 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 Madera

See all the best places to live around Madera

Compare Madera, 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$77,557$6,463$1,810$2,327
      Renters$35,979$2,998$839$1,079
      The affordability of the housing market in Madera, 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 Madera homeowners, the median income is $77,557. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,810 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $35,979. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $839 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 Madera National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.83$24.2610.6%
      Beauty Salon $76.57$45.5668.0%
      Toothpaste $3.86$3.704.3%
      Shampoo $1.56$1.2821.9%
      Movie $14.64$12.1320.6%
      Bowling $23.78$18.0032.1%

      Groceries

      Item Madera National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.21$5.846.3%
      Fried Chicken $2.10$1.5733.7%
      Milk $4.99$4.676.9%
      Potatoes $4.98$4.930.9%
      Pizza $15.69$12.0929.8%
      Beer $10.96$10.415.3%

      Health Care

      Item Madera National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $157.88$125.6825.6%
      Doctor $166.71$135.7822.8%
      Dentist $148.27$113.2930.9%
      Ibuprofen $11.69$10.659.8%
      Lipitor $498.45$468.606.4%

      Housing

      Item Madera National avg. Difference
      Home Price $237,500.00$184,700.0028.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $4,545.90$2,346.6993.7%
      Apartment Rent $1,079.00$949.0013.7%

      Transportation

      Item Madera National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.63$3.4633.9%
      Tire Balancing $70.51$59.9217.7%

      Utilities

      Item Madera National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $299.78$193.9954.5%
      Phone $191.56$192.250.4%
      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.
      Fairmead, CA1,133991.1%
      Biola, CA1,4401054.7%
      Parkwood, CA2,3941055.3%
      Chowchilla, CA18,44311111.4%
      Parksdale, CA2,72511211.8%
      Madera, CA65,57511514.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Auburn, AL65,5081087.8%
      Halton Hills, ON65,483n/a 
      Lakeville, MN65,71011818.2%
      Rowlett, TX65,42612019.8%
      Eastvale, CA65,76617069.7%
      Madera, CA65,57511514.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.