D
11%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
13%
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 Chowchilla California National
Cost of living111140100
Goods & Services104111100
Groceries104112100
Health care96109100
Housing113196100
Transportation120126100
Utilities140127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Chowchilla, CA

The cost of living in Chowchilla 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 Chowchilla is 111, which is 11% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Is Chowchilla Affordable?

Is Chowchilla 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 Chowchilla is 18.9% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 0.3% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Chowchilla has a median household income of $56,683, which is 2.5% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Chowchilla?

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, 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. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.

Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Chowchilla, the housing index is 13.1% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Chowchilla, the transportation index is 20% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Chowchilla 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 Chowchilla is 20% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Chowchilla is 11% higher than the national average
  • Chowchilla housing is 13% higher than the national average
  • California general sales tax is 42% higher than the national average
  • California state income tax is 56% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Chowchilla

See all the best places to live around Chowchilla

Compare Chowchilla, 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$68,774$5,731$1,605$2,063
      Renters$44,458$3,705$1,037$1,334
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Chowchilla 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. Chowchilla has a median income of about $68,774 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,605 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $44,458. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,037 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% 12.3%

      Goods & Services

      Item Chowchilla National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.83$24.2610.6%
      Beauty Salon $76.57$45.5668.0%
      Toothpaste $3.86$3.704.3%
      Shampoo $1.56$1.2821.9%
      Movie $14.64$12.1320.6%
      Bowling $23.78$18.0032.1%

      Groceries

      Item Chowchilla National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.21$5.846.3%
      Fried Chicken $2.10$1.5733.7%
      Milk $4.99$4.676.9%
      Potatoes $4.98$4.930.9%
      Pizza $15.69$12.0929.8%
      Beer $10.96$10.415.3%

      Health Care

      Item Chowchilla National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $157.88$125.6825.6%
      Doctor $166.71$135.7822.8%
      Dentist $148.27$113.2930.9%
      Ibuprofen $11.69$10.659.8%
      Lipitor $498.45$468.606.4%

      Housing

      Item Chowchilla National avg. Difference
      Home Price $219,600.00$184,700.0018.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $4,545.90$2,346.6993.7%
      Apartment Rent $946.00$949.000.3%

      Transportation

      Item Chowchilla National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.63$3.4633.9%
      Tire Balancing $70.51$59.9217.7%

      Utilities

      Item Chowchilla National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $299.78$193.9954.5%
      Phone $191.56$192.250.4%
      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.
      Bear Creek, CA9511110.7%
      Tuttle, CA9711110.7%
      El Nido, CA283963.8%
      Fairmead, CA1,133991.1%
      Le Grand, CA1,5971022.4%
      Chowchilla, CA18,44311111.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Fairmont, WV18,4438712.9%
      Sartell, MN18,4391066.3%
      Hybla Valley, VA18,43813232.1%
      Gautier, MS18,436918.6%
      Niles, OH18,4298416.4%
      Chowchilla, CA18,44311111.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.