Cost of Living in Scotts Valley, CA

An Overview of Cost of Living in Scotts Valley, CA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Scotts Valley? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Scotts Valley stands at 193, making it 93% 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, Scotts Valley 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, Scotts Valley falls within this bracket.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Scotts Valley cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 269.2% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

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, Scotts Valley does not fare better, with grocery expenses coming in at 14.5% higher than the national average.

Is Scotts Valley Affordable?

Wondering if Scotts Valley is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Scotts Valley, for example, the median home price is 339.6% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 105% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Scotts Valley boasting a median household income of $103,783, which is 87.6% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Scotts Valley?

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 Scotts Valley, the utilities index is 31.8% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Scotts Valley, healthcare costs are 22.6% 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 Scotts Valley, the groceries index registers 14.5% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Scotts Valley, 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.