F
49%
Overall NAT. AVG.
12%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
139%
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 Whittier California National
Cost of living149140100
Goods & Services112111100
Groceries113112100
Health care99109100
Housing239196100
Transportation124126100
Utilities94127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in South Whittier, CA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in South Whittier? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in South Whittier stands at 149, making it 49% 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, South Whittier 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, South Whittier falls within this bracket.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in South Whittier, 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 139% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

The things you purchase regularly, like clothes, haircuts, movie tickets and gym memberships, can make a big dent in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. Unfortunately in South Whittier, these items will cost you 12% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

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, South Whittier does not fare better, with grocery expenses coming in at 13.1% higher than the national average.

Is South Whittier Affordable?

Is South Whittier affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in South Whittier, the median home price is 171.7% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 62.7% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with South Whittier boasting a median household income of $75,883, 37.2% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in South Whittier?

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 South Whittier, the groceries index is 13.1% 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 South Whittier, the transportation index is 23.9% higher 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 Whittier, the utilities index registers at 5.9% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in South Whittier displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in South Whittier is 7% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in South Whittier is 49% higher than the national average
  • South Whittier housing is 139% 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 Whittier

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Compare South Whittier, 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$90,343$7,529$2,108$2,711
      Renters$53,623$4,469$1,251$1,609
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in South Whittier 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. South Whittier has a median income of about $90,343 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,108 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $53,623. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,251 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 South Whittier National avg. Difference
      Haircut $27.27$24.2612.4%
      Beauty Salon $41.78$45.568.3%
      Toothpaste $3.61$3.702.6%
      Shampoo $1.34$1.284.9%
      Movie $11.04$12.139.0%
      Bowling $21.11$18.0017.3%

      Groceries

      Item South Whittier National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.89$5.840.8%
      Fried Chicken $3.49$1.57121.9%
      Milk $4.92$4.675.4%
      Potatoes $4.92$4.930.3%
      Pizza $15.31$12.0926.6%
      Beer $10.26$10.411.4%

      Health Care

      Item South Whittier National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $112.92$125.6810.2%
      Doctor $95.50$135.7829.7%
      Dentist $117.28$113.293.5%
      Ibuprofen $10.58$10.650.7%
      Lipitor $521.17$468.6011.2%

      Housing

      Item South Whittier National avg. Difference
      Home Price $501,900.00$184,700.00171.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,441.43$2,346.694.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,544.00$949.0062.7%

      Transportation

      Item South Whittier National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.75$3.4637.3%
      Tire Balancing $61.38$59.922.4%

      Utilities

      Item South Whittier National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $378.97$193.9995.4%
      Phone $180.31$192.256.2%
      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%
      Compton, CA95,80413636.2%
      Florence-Graham, CA64,78713736.5%
      Industry, CA26413333.1%
      South Whittier, CA58,61614949.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Corvallis, OR58,61212524.5%
      Great Falls, MT58,717946.4%
      Margate, FL58,4651099.3%
      Greenwood, IN58,784972.9%
      Orland Park, IL58,38011515.3%
      South Whittier, CA58,61614949.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.