F
139%
Overall NAT. AVG.
14%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
417%
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 Moraga California National
Cost of living239140100
Goods & Services114111100
Groceries117112100
Health care121109100
Housing517196100
Transportation129126100
Utilities134127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Moraga, CA

The cost of living in Moraga 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 Moraga is 239, which is 139% 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, Moraga 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, Moraga falls within this bracket.

When it comes to the cost of living in Moraga, 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 417% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

Goods and services make up 33% of the total cost of living index score and are a large part of your everyday expenses. These items could include things like haircuts, salons, toothpaste, shampoo, clothes, movies, bowling, gym memberships or yoga. In Moraga, you can expect to pay 14.1% more than average 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, Moraga does not fare better, with grocery expenses coming in at 17.2% higher than the national average.

Is Moraga Affordable?

Is Moraga an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Moraga is 534.3% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 143.5% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Moraga has a median household income of $152,788, which is 176.2% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Moraga?

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 Moraga, the transportation index is 29.2% higher than the national average.

Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Moraga, the utilities index stands at 33.7% 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.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Moraga 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 Moraga is 71% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Moraga is 139% higher than the national average
  • Moraga housing is 417% 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 Moraga

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Compare Moraga, CA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

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      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$165,865$13,822$3,870$4,976
      Renters$78,750$6,563$1,837$2,363
      The affordability of the housing market in Moraga, 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 Moraga homeowners, the median income is $165,865. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $3,870 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $78,750. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,837 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 Moraga National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.00$24.263.0%
      Beauty Salon $76.00$45.5666.8%
      Toothpaste $3.64$3.701.7%
      Shampoo $1.45$1.2813.5%
      Movie $16.46$12.1335.7%
      Bowling $27.22$18.0051.2%

      Groceries

      Item Moraga National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.70$5.842.3%
      Fried Chicken $3.43$1.57118.2%
      Milk $4.91$4.675.1%
      Potatoes $4.87$4.931.3%
      Pizza $13.49$12.0911.6%
      Beer $11.18$10.417.4%

      Health Care

      Item Moraga National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $137.40$125.689.3%
      Doctor $110.00$135.7819.0%
      Dentist $118.27$113.294.4%
      Ibuprofen $11.76$10.6510.4%
      Lipitor $508.17$468.608.4%

      Housing

      Item Moraga National avg. Difference
      Home Price $1,171,500.00$184,700.00534.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $6,553.90$2,346.69179.3%
      Apartment Rent $2,311.00$949.00143.5%

      Transportation

      Item Moraga National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.60$3.4633.0%
      Tire Balancing $60.97$59.921.7%

      Utilities

      Item Moraga National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $182.51$193.995.9%
      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.
      Port Costa, CA24212020.0%
      Pacheco, CA4,77511615.7%
      San Miguel CDP (San Luis Obispo County), CA2,69612928.9%
      Bay Point, CA25,37813736.8%
      El Cerrito CDP, CA5,69914039.6%
      Moraga, CA16,896239139.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Wayne, MI16,8948910.7%
      Stafford, TX16,9041022.3%
      Boerne, TX16,90911414.3%
      Nocatee, FL16,91413332.7%
      Norcross, GA16,8761076.8%
      Moraga, CA16,896239139.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.