F
30%
Overall NAT. AVG.
1%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
96%
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 South Lake Tahoe California National
Cost of living130140100
Goods & Services99111100
Groceries101112100
Health care95109100
Housing196196100
Transportation122126100
Utilities92127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in South Lake Tahoe, CA

The cost of living in South Lake Tahoe affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in South Lake Tahoe is 130, which is 30% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, South Lake Tahoe 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, South Lake Tahoe falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.

Housing costs are a major factor in the South Lake Tahoe 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 95.9% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in South Lake Tahoe?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 10 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in South Lake Tahoe and this is how they responded. 10% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 90% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is South Lake Tahoe Affordable?

Is South Lake Tahoe 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 South Lake Tahoe, the median home price is 130.5% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 15.1% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in South Lake Tahoe come in at $52,871, which is 4.4% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in South Lake Tahoe?

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In South Lake Tahoe, the healthcare costs are 5.3% lower than the national average.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In South Lake Tahoe, the utilities index registers at 8.5% lower than the national average.

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 South Lake Tahoe, the groceries index is 0.8% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in South Lake Tahoe, 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 South Lake Tahoe is 7% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in South Lake Tahoe is 30% higher than the national average
  • South Lake Tahoe housing is 96% 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 South Lake Tahoe

See all the best places to live around South Lake Tahoe

Compare South Lake Tahoe, 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$72,993$6,083$1,703$2,190
      Renters$47,536$3,961$1,109$1,426
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in South Lake Tahoe, 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 South Lake Tahoe, the median monthly income is $72,993 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $1,703 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $47,536, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $1,109 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 South Lake Tahoe National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.78$24.266.2%
      Beauty Salon $42.67$45.566.4%
      Toothpaste $3.72$3.700.4%
      Shampoo $1.37$1.286.7%
      Movie $11.00$12.139.3%
      Bowling $21.95$18.0021.9%

      Groceries

      Item South Lake Tahoe National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.87$5.840.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.87$1.5718.7%
      Milk $4.60$4.671.6%
      Potatoes $4.57$4.937.4%
      Pizza $12.67$12.094.9%
      Beer $9.41$10.419.6%

      Health Care

      Item South Lake Tahoe National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $115.11$125.688.4%
      Doctor $129.11$135.784.9%
      Dentist $118.11$113.294.3%
      Ibuprofen $10.85$10.651.8%
      Lipitor $349.59$468.6025.4%

      Housing

      Item South Lake Tahoe National avg. Difference
      Home Price $425,700.00$184,700.00130.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,701.18$2,346.6915.1%
      Apartment Rent $1,092.00$949.0015.1%

      Transportation

      Item South Lake Tahoe National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.40$3.4627.1%
      Tire Balancing $66.55$59.9211.1%

      Utilities

      Item South Lake Tahoe National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $171.07$193.9911.8%
      Phone $185.80$192.253.4%
      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.
      Logan Creek, NV371021.5%
      Carson City, NV55,24411414.5%
      Gardnerville, NV6,01311717.4%
      Gardnerville Ranchos, NV11,43212120.6%
      Indian Hills, NV6,17312222.1%
      South Lake Tahoe, CA22,53513029.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Duncan, OK22,5298515.0%
      Greenfield, IN22,561946.2%
      Silver Firs, WA22,56415958.9%
      Hopewell, VA22,500946.5%
      Jasmine Estates, FL22,572909.9%
      South Lake Tahoe, CA22,53513029.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.