F
48%
Overall NAT. AVG.
16%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
125%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
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 West Whittier-Los Nietos California National
Cost of living148140100
Goods & Services116111100
Groceries112112100
Health care108109100
Housing225196100
Transportation124126100
Utilities112127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in West Whittier-Los Nietos, CA

Knowing the cost of living in West Whittier-Los Nietos 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 West Whittier-Los Nietos stands at 148, marking it 48% higher than the national average.

If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, West Whittier-Los Nietos may not be your ideal choice, as it ranks among the most expensive locations in the entire United States. A very small amount of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, West Whittier-Los Nietos falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in West Whittier-Los Nietos, 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 124.8% 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 West Whittier-Los Nietos, these items will cost you 16.2% 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, West Whittier-Los Nietos does not fare better, with grocery expenses coming in at 12.2% higher than the national average.

Is West Whittier-Los Nietos Affordable?

Is West Whittier-Los Nietos 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 West Whittier-Los Nietos, the median home price is 150.4% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 65% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with West Whittier-Los Nietos boasting a median household income of $75,515, 36.5% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in West Whittier-Los Nietos?

Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In West Whittier-Los Nietos, the housing index stands at 124.8% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In West Whittier-Los Nietos, healthcare costs are 7.9% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The West Whittier-Los Nietos 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. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

New Real Estate Listings in West Whittier-Los Nietos Area
Search Homes for Sale in West Whittier-Los Nietos, CA

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in West Whittier-Los Nietos is 6% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in West Whittier-Los Nietos is 48% higher than the national average
  • West Whittier-Los Nietos housing is 125% 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 West Whittier-Los Nietos

See all the best places to live around West Whittier-Los Nietos

Compare West Whittier-Los Nietos, CA Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in West Whittier-Los Nietos?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in West Whittier-Los Nietos?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all West Whittier-Los Nietos poll results

      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$85,136$7,095$1,986$2,554
      Renters$55,143$4,595$1,287$1,654
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in West Whittier-Los Nietos, 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 West Whittier-Los Nietos have a median income of $85,136. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,986 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $55,143, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $1,287.

      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 West Whittier-Los Nietos National avg. Difference
      Haircut $24.67$24.261.7%
      Beauty Salon $49.33$45.568.3%
      Toothpaste $3.76$3.701.5%
      Shampoo $1.41$1.289.8%
      Movie $13.46$12.1311.0%
      Bowling $19.07$18.006.0%

      Groceries

      Item West Whittier-Los Nietos National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.26$5.847.2%
      Fried Chicken $2.08$1.5732.2%
      Milk $4.76$4.671.9%
      Potatoes $4.94$4.930.2%
      Pizza $16.13$12.0933.5%
      Beer $9.60$10.417.8%

      Health Care

      Item West Whittier-Los Nietos National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $129.09$125.682.7%
      Doctor $119.86$135.7811.7%
      Dentist $108.07$113.294.6%
      Ibuprofen $10.36$10.652.7%
      Lipitor $505.41$468.607.9%

      Housing

      Item West Whittier-Los Nietos National avg. Difference
      Home Price $462,500.00$184,700.00150.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,799.02$2,346.6919.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,566.00$949.0065.0%

      Transportation

      Item West Whittier-Los Nietos National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.47$3.4629.3%
      Tire Balancing $58.33$59.922.6%

      Utilities

      Item West Whittier-Los Nietos National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $326.49$193.9968.3%
      Phone $182.78$192.254.9%
      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%
      West Whittier-Los Nietos, CA26,12114848.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      West Odessa, TX26,1178812.4%
      Sun City Center, FL26,1381076.5%
      Stevens Point, WI26,1448812.4%
      University Park, FL26,15011312.6%
      Hercules, CA26,09017372.8%
      West Whittier-Los Nietos, CA26,12114848.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.