D
10%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
1%
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 Porterville California National
Cost of living110140100
Goods & Services105111100
Groceries107112100
Health care93109100
Housing99196100
Transportation127126100
Utilities157127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Porterville, CA

Knowing the cost of living in Porterville 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 Porterville stands at 110, marking it 10% higher than the national average.

Is Porterville Affordable?

Is Porterville 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 Porterville, the median home price is 1.4% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 0.6% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Porterville come in at $44,095, which is 20.3% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Porterville?

Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.

Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Porterville, the general sales tax rate starts at 7.25%, and income tax rates begin at 1%.

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 Porterville, the utilities index stands at 56.6% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Porterville 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 Porterville is 21% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Porterville is 10% higher than the national average
  • Porterville housing is 1% lower 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 Porterville

See all the best places to live around Porterville

Compare Porterville, 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$62,071$5,173$1,448$1,862
      Renters$30,733$2,561$717$922
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Porterville, 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 Porterville, the median monthly income is $62,071 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $1,448 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $30,733, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $717 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 Porterville National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.25$24.268.2%
      Beauty Salon $89.33$45.5696.1%
      Toothpaste $3.75$3.701.3%
      Shampoo $1.48$1.2815.6%
      Movie $18.12$12.1349.4%
      Bowling $22.67$18.0025.9%

      Groceries

      Item Porterville National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.77$5.841.1%
      Fried Chicken $2.63$1.5767.0%
      Milk $4.91$4.675.0%
      Potatoes $4.90$4.930.6%
      Pizza $13.49$12.0911.6%
      Beer $11.13$10.416.9%

      Health Care

      Item Porterville National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $142.20$125.6813.1%
      Doctor $131.33$135.783.3%
      Dentist $131.50$113.2916.1%
      Ibuprofen $11.78$10.6510.6%
      Lipitor $508.17$468.608.4%

      Housing

      Item Porterville National avg. Difference
      Home Price $182,100.00$184,700.001.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $5,847.37$2,346.69149.2%
      Apartment Rent $943.00$949.000.6%

      Transportation

      Item Porterville National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.62$3.4633.6%
      Tire Balancing $61.00$59.921.8%

      Utilities

      Item Porterville National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $231.40$193.9919.3%
      Phone $193.81$192.250.8%
      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.
      El Rancho, CA011515.0%
      Tonyville, CA23611515.0%
      Plainview, CA610954.7%
      Ducor, CA708973.2%
      Strathmore, CA3,6411021.5%
      Porterville, CA59,05611010.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Springfield, OH58,9578613.8%
      Fountainebleau, FL59,17411212.2%
      San Rafael, CA59,178217117.4%
      St. Clair Shores, MI59,184964.2%
      Brookline, MA59,223220119.7%
      Porterville, CA59,05611010.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.