F
242%
Overall NAT. AVG.
16%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
769%
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 San Marino California National
Cost of living342140100
Goods & Services116111100
Groceries112112100
Health care108109100
Housing869196100
Transportation124126100
Utilities112127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in San Marino, CA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in San Marino? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in San Marino stands at 342, making it 242% 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, San Marino 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, San Marino falls within this bracket.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in San Marino, 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 768.7% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Recurring goods and services expenses like haircuts, toothpaste, gym memberships and movie nights are a big part of your spending and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In San Marino, these items will cost you 16.2% more than what most folks pay, making it a bit more expensive to live here.

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 San Marino is even less favorable, with grocery prices here being 12.2% higher than the national average.

Is San Marino Affordable?

Is San Marino 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 San Marino, for instance, where the median home price falls 982.8% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 268.9% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with San Marino flaunting a median household income of $164,423, 197.2% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in San Marino?

Urbanization: Larger, urban hubs brimming with ample amenities and robust employment opportunities often showcase a heightened cost of living. This surge is primarily attributed to the amplified demand for services and increased residential migration, culminating in elevated home prices and elevated rental rates. Conversely, less densely populated rural locales or regions characterized by reduced demand tend to offer a more limited array of amenities and undergo slower job market growth, ultimately yielding a more affordable cost of living.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In San Marino, the groceries index is 12.2% 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 San Marino, the transportation index is 24.3% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in San Marino, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in San Marino is 145% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in San Marino is 242% higher than the national average
  • San Marino housing is 769% 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 San Marino

See all the best places to live around San Marino

Compare San Marino, 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$166,458$13,872$3,884$4,994
      Renters$152,880$12,740$3,567$4,587
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in San Marino, CA, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In San Marino, homeowners have a median income of $166,458. Using that number, a maximum of $3,884 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $152,880, which means there is a maximum of $3,567 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 San Marino National avg. Difference
      Haircut $24.67$24.261.7%
      Beauty Salon $49.33$45.568.3%
      Toothpaste $3.76$3.701.5%
      Shampoo $1.41$1.289.8%
      Movie $13.46$12.1311.0%
      Bowling $19.07$18.006.0%

      Groceries

      Item San Marino National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.26$5.847.2%
      Fried Chicken $2.08$1.5732.2%
      Milk $4.76$4.671.9%
      Potatoes $4.94$4.930.2%
      Pizza $16.13$12.0933.5%
      Beer $9.60$10.417.8%

      Health Care

      Item San Marino National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $129.09$125.682.7%
      Doctor $119.86$135.7811.7%
      Dentist $108.07$113.294.6%
      Ibuprofen $10.36$10.652.7%
      Lipitor $505.41$468.607.9%

      Housing

      Item San Marino National avg. Difference
      Home Price $2,000,001.00$184,700.00982.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,799.02$2,346.6919.3%
      Apartment Rent $3,501.00$949.00268.9%

      Transportation

      Item San Marino National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.47$3.4629.3%
      Tire Balancing $58.33$59.922.6%

      Utilities

      Item San Marino National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $326.49$193.9968.3%
      Phone $182.78$192.254.9%
      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.
      Vernon, CA24811717.0%
      Willowbrook, CA24,40113333.3%
      Florence-Graham, CA64,78713736.5%
      Industry, CA26413333.1%
      Bell Gardens, CA41,77013939.0%
      San Marino, CA13,020342241.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lloydminster (Part), SK13,022n/a 
      Coolidge, AZ13,016990.6%
      Red Oak, TX13,01011010.2%
      Butler, PA13,0088712.8%
      Dunmore, PA13,008964.5%
      San Marino, CA13,020342241.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.