F
25%
Overall NAT. AVG.
8%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
50%
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 Stockton California National
Cost of living125140100
Goods & Services108111100
Groceries107112100
Health care102109100
Housing150196100
Transportation122126100
Utilities142127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Stockton, CA

The cost of living in Stockton 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 Stockton is 125, which is 25% 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 affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Stockton is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Stockton falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Stockton cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 50.4% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Stockton?

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 33 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Stockton. The feedback revealed that 39% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 61% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Stockton Affordable?

Is Stockton an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Stockton is 61.5% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 24.7% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Stockton has a median household income of $58,393, which is 5.6% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Stockton?

Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Stockton, the groceries index is 6.8% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Stockton, the transportation index stands at 21.7% 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 Stockton, the utilities index registers at 41.9% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Stockton cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates 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 Stockton is 10% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Stockton is 25% higher than the national average
  • Stockton housing is 50% 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 Stockton

See all the best places to live around Stockton

Compare Stockton, CA Cost of Living

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      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$77,969$6,497$1,819$2,339
      Renters$40,968$3,414$956$1,229
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Stockton, CA, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Stockton have a median income of $77,969. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,819 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $40,968, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $956.

      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 Stockton National avg. Difference
      Haircut $23.42$24.263.5%
      Beauty Salon $49.62$45.568.9%
      Toothpaste $3.64$3.701.6%
      Shampoo $1.50$1.2817.0%
      Movie $13.61$12.1312.2%
      Bowling $22.34$18.0024.1%

      Groceries

      Item Stockton National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.24$5.846.9%
      Fried Chicken $2.10$1.5733.8%
      Milk $4.83$4.673.5%
      Potatoes $4.43$4.9310.3%
      Pizza $16.78$12.0938.8%
      Beer $10.08$10.413.2%

      Health Care

      Item Stockton National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $138.22$125.6810.0%
      Doctor $134.39$135.781.0%
      Dentist $117.52$113.293.7%
      Ibuprofen $10.68$10.650.3%
      Lipitor $494.99$468.605.6%

      Housing

      Item Stockton National avg. Difference
      Home Price $298,200.00$184,700.0061.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,173.44$2,346.6935.2%
      Apartment Rent $1,183.00$949.0024.7%

      Transportation

      Item Stockton National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.21$3.4621.5%
      Tire Balancing $73.10$59.9222.0%

      Utilities

      Item Stockton National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $327.22$193.9968.7%
      Phone $189.16$192.251.6%
      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.
      Acampo, CA26111414.2%
      August, CA8,0461109.9%
      Kennedy, CA2,87711010.1%
      Garden Acres, CA10,09611313.3%
      Taft Mosswood, CA1,06011414.2%
      Stockton, CA311,10312525.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Henderson, NV309,95511818.3%
      St. Paul, MN305,8771022.0%
      St. Louis, MO304,709909.8%
      Cincinnati, OH302,687954.7%
      Pittsburgh, PA301,286954.8%
      Stockton, CA311,10312525.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.