D-
17%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
21%
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 Tulare California National
Cost of living117140100
Goods & Services105111100
Groceries107112100
Health care93109100
Housing121196100
Transportation127126100
Utilities157127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Tulare, CA

Knowing the cost of living in Tulare 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 Tulare stands at 117, marking it 17% higher than the national average.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Tulare 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 20.7% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Tulare Affordable?

Is Tulare 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 Tulare is 22.6% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 16.2% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Tulare has a median household income of $56,024, which is 1.3% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Tulare?

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Tulare, healthcare costs are 6.6% lower than the national average.

Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Tulare 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 Tulare is 16% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Tulare is 17% higher than the national average
  • Tulare housing is 21% 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 Tulare

See all the best places to live around Tulare

Compare Tulare, 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$70,554$5,880$1,646$2,117
      Renters$38,027$3,169$887$1,141
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Tulare, CA, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Tulare homeowners, is $70,554. This would allow for a maximum of $1,646 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $38,027 which would result in a maximum of $887 to be spent on rental costs.

      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 Tulare National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.25$24.268.2%
      Beauty Salon $89.33$45.5696.1%
      Toothpaste $3.75$3.701.3%
      Shampoo $1.48$1.2815.6%
      Movie $18.12$12.1349.4%
      Bowling $22.67$18.0025.9%

      Groceries

      Item Tulare National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.77$5.841.1%
      Fried Chicken $2.63$1.5767.0%
      Milk $4.91$4.675.0%
      Potatoes $4.90$4.930.6%
      Pizza $13.49$12.0911.6%
      Beer $11.13$10.416.9%

      Health Care

      Item Tulare National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $142.20$125.6813.1%
      Doctor $131.33$135.783.3%
      Dentist $131.50$113.2916.1%
      Ibuprofen $11.78$10.6510.6%
      Lipitor $508.17$468.608.4%

      Housing

      Item Tulare National avg. Difference
      Home Price $226,500.00$184,700.0022.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $5,847.37$2,346.69149.2%
      Apartment Rent $1,103.00$949.0016.2%

      Transportation

      Item Tulare National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.62$3.4633.6%
      Tire Balancing $61.00$59.921.8%

      Utilities

      Item Tulare National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $231.40$193.9919.3%
      Phone $193.81$192.250.8%
      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.
      Tonyville, CA23611515.0%
      Plainview, CA610954.7%
      Linnell Camp, CA837973.4%
      Matheny, CA1,0361010.6%
      Poplar-Cotton Center, CA1,8401032.9%
      Tulare, CA64,54611716.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Eden Prairie, MN64,48112423.7%
      East Orange, NJ64,65011111.1%
      Noblesville, IN64,4301044.2%
      Janesville, WI64,415918.9%
      Castro Valley, CA64,39219594.9%
      Tulare, CA64,54611716.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.