F
45%
Overall NAT. AVG.
16%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
113%
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 Westmont California National
Cost of living145140100
Goods & Services116111100
Groceries112112100
Health care108109100
Housing213196100
Transportation124126100
Utilities112127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Westmont, CA

Knowing the cost of living in Westmont 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 Westmont stands at 145, marking it 45% higher than the national average.

If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Westmont 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, Westmont falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs significantly influence the Westmont cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 112.9%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

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 Westmont, these items will cost you 16.2% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

Groceries are getting more expensive by the day and the cost of groceries makes up 13% of the overall cost of living index. In the past two years, prices have shot up by over 10%! Unfortunately, in Westmont, it's the same story – grocery costs are 12.2% higher than what people pay across the country.

Is Westmont Affordable?

Is Westmont 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 Westmont is 149.4% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 27.7% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Westmont has a median household income of $41,119, which is 25.7% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Westmont?

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from 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 crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In Westmont, the transportation index is 24.3% higher than the national average.

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 Westmont, the healthcare costs are 7.9% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Westmont 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.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Westmont is 4% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Westmont is 45% higher than the national average
  • Westmont housing is 113% 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 Westmont

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Compare Westmont, 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$75,101$6,258$1,752$2,253
      Renters$31,386$2,616$732$942
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Westmont 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. Westmont has a median income of about $75,101 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,752 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $31,386. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $732 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 Westmont 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 Westmont 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 Westmont 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 Westmont National avg. Difference
      Home Price $460,700.00$184,700.00149.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,799.02$2,346.6919.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,212.00$949.0027.7%

      Transportation

      Item Westmont National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.47$3.4629.3%
      Tire Balancing $58.33$59.922.6%

      Utilities

      Item Westmont 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.
      Westside, CA21311615.6%
      Vernon, CA24811717.0%
      Willowbrook, CA24,40113333.3%
      Rolling Hills CDP, CA83213433.9%
      Compton, CA95,80413636.2%
      Westmont, CA35,18814544.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Menlo Park, CA35,211333233.1%
      Gadsden, AL35,2248217.7%
      Buenaventura Lakes, FL35,1171043.8%
      Bell, CA35,30114242.1%
      Manhattan Beach, CA35,064333232.8%
      Westmont, CA35,18814544.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.