F
241%
Overall NAT. AVG.
14%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
757%
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 Piedmont California National
Cost of living341140100
Goods & Services114111100
Groceries117112100
Health care121109100
Housing857196100
Transportation129126100
Utilities134127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Piedmont, CA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Piedmont? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Piedmont stands at 341, making it 241% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Piedmont 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, Piedmont falls within this bracket.

Housing costs significantly influence the Piedmont 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 756.9%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

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 Piedmont, these items will cost you 14.1% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

The substantial and relentless rise in grocery prices definitely warrants some attention. Over the past two years, grocery expenses have escalated by more than 10%. Having said that, the situation in Piedmont is even less favorable, with grocery prices here being 17.2% higher than the national average.

Is Piedmont Affordable?

Is Piedmont 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 Piedmont, for instance, where the median home price falls 982.8% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 229.6% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Piedmont flaunting a median household income of $250,001, 351.9% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Piedmont?

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Piedmont, the groceries index is 17.2% higher than the national average.

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 Piedmont, the transportation index is 29.2% 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 Piedmont, the standard sales tax rate starts at 7.25%, and the income tax rates commence at 1%.

Where is the Data From?

The Piedmont 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 Piedmont is 144% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Piedmont is 241% higher than the national average
  • Piedmont housing is 757% 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 Piedmont

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Compare Piedmont, 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$250,001$20,833$5,833$7,501
      Renters$205,625$17,135$4,798$6,169
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Piedmont, 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 Piedmont, the median monthly income is $250,001 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $5,833 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $205,625, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $4,798 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 Piedmont 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 Piedmont 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 Piedmont 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 Piedmont National avg. Difference
      Home Price $2,000,001.00$184,700.00982.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $6,553.90$2,346.69179.3%
      Apartment Rent $3,128.00$949.00229.6%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Piedmont 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.
      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%
      San Pablo, CA30,95914242.0%
      Piedmont, CA11,454341241.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lyndon, KY11,4511043.5%
      Madison Heights, VA11,447919.2%
      Elizabethtown, PA11,4451032.7%
      Milford, DE11,4631043.6%
      Magalia, CA11,4441109.6%
      Piedmont, CA11,454341241.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.