F
64%
Overall NAT. AVG.
16%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
177%
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 Santa Clarita California National
Cost of living164140100
Goods & Services116111100
Groceries112112100
Health care108109100
Housing277196100
Transportation124126100
Utilities112127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Santa Clarita, CA

Knowing the cost of living in Santa Clarita 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 Santa Clarita stands at 164, marking it 64% higher than the national average.

If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Santa Clarita may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Santa Clarita falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.

When it comes to the cost of living in Santa Clarita, 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 177.3% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

Recurring essentials like haircuts, toothpaste, and entertainment, from movies to gym sessions, can really add up in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Santa Clarita, you you will have to spend 16.2% more than average when compared to the typical prices for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

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

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Santa Clarita?

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 23 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Santa Clarita. The results indicated that 22% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 78% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is Santa Clarita Affordable?

Is Santa Clarita 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 Santa Clarita, the median home price is 205.6% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 111.1% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Santa Clarita come in at $100,932, which is 82.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Santa Clarita?

Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Santa Clarita, the housing index stands at 177.3% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Santa Clarita, the groceries index registers 12.2% higher than the national average.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Santa Clarita, the utilities index is 12.4% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Santa Clarita cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors 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 Santa Clarita is 18% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Santa Clarita is 64% higher than the national average
  • Santa Clarita housing is 177% 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 Santa Clarita

See all the best places to live around Santa Clarita

Compare Santa Clarita, 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$121,747$10,146$2,841$3,653
      Renters$63,573$5,298$1,483$1,907
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Santa Clarita is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Santa Clarita has a median income of about $121,747 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,841 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $63,573. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,483 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Santa Clarita 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 Santa Clarita 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 Santa Clarita 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 Santa Clarita National avg. Difference
      Home Price $564,500.00$184,700.00205.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,799.02$2,346.6919.3%
      Apartment Rent $2,003.00$949.00111.1%

      Transportation

      Item Santa Clarita National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.47$3.4629.3%
      Tire Balancing $58.33$59.922.6%

      Utilities

      Item Santa Clarita 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.
      Piru, CA2,12613333.4%
      Leona Valley, CA1,67213838.4%
      Val Verde, CA3,26113939.1%
      San Fernando, CA24,24414847.7%
      Burbank CDP, CA4,98415454.2%
      Santa Clarita, CA212,51916464.1%

      Cities with similar population

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      Oakville, ON212,353n/a 
      Fontana, CA212,70413535.1%
      Fayetteville, NC211,201936.6%
      Birmingham, AL210,9288812.3%
      Modesto, CA214,48512423.6%
      Santa Clarita, CA212,51916464.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.