F
31%
Overall NAT. AVG.
12%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
79%
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 Grand Terrace California National
Cost of living131140100
Goods & Services112111100
Groceries113112100
Health care99109100
Housing179196100
Transportation124126100
Utilities94127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Grand Terrace, CA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Grand Terrace? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Grand Terrace stands at 131, making it 31% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Grand Terrace may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Grand Terrace falls within this bracket.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Grand Terrace, 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 79.5% 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 Grand Terrace, these items will cost you 12% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

The substantial and relentless rise in grocery prices definitely warrants some attention. Over the past two years, grocery expenses have escalated by more than 10%. Having said that, the situation in Grand Terrace is even less favorable, with grocery prices here being 13.1% higher than the national average.

Is Grand Terrace Affordable?

Is Grand Terrace affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Grand Terrace, for instance, where the median home price falls 92.4% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 49.2% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Grand Terrace flaunting a median household income of $70,200, 26.9% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Grand Terrace?

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.

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Grand Terrace comes in at 5.9% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Grand Terrace, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 7.25%, and income tax rates start at 1%.

Where is the Data From?

The Grand Terrace cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors 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 Grand Terrace is 6% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Grand Terrace is 31% higher than the national average
  • Grand Terrace housing is 79% 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 Grand Terrace

See all the best places to live around Grand Terrace

Compare Grand Terrace, 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$89,702$7,475$2,093$2,691
      Renters$60,483$5,040$1,411$1,815
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Grand Terrace, CA, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Grand Terrace, the median monthly income is $89,702 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $2,093 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $60,483, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $1,411 on monthly rental expenses.

      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 Grand Terrace National avg. Difference
      Haircut $27.27$24.2612.4%
      Beauty Salon $41.78$45.568.3%
      Toothpaste $3.61$3.702.6%
      Shampoo $1.34$1.284.9%
      Movie $11.04$12.139.0%
      Bowling $21.11$18.0017.3%

      Groceries

      Item Grand Terrace National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.89$5.840.8%
      Fried Chicken $3.49$1.57121.9%
      Milk $4.92$4.675.4%
      Potatoes $4.92$4.930.3%
      Pizza $15.31$12.0926.6%
      Beer $10.26$10.411.4%

      Health Care

      Item Grand Terrace National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $112.92$125.6810.2%
      Doctor $95.50$135.7829.7%
      Dentist $117.28$113.293.5%
      Ibuprofen $10.58$10.650.7%
      Lipitor $521.17$468.6011.2%

      Housing

      Item Grand Terrace National avg. Difference
      Home Price $355,400.00$184,700.0092.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,441.43$2,346.694.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,416.00$949.0049.2%

      Transportation

      Item Grand Terrace National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.75$3.4637.3%
      Tire Balancing $61.38$59.922.4%

      Utilities

      Item Grand Terrace National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $378.97$193.9995.4%
      Phone $180.31$192.256.2%
      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.
      Calimesa, CA9,15611818.5%
      San Bernardino, CA216,78411918.9%
      Running Springs, CA4,41012019.9%
      Muscoy, CA11,54612020.5%
      Mead Valley, CA20,81712121.4%
      Grand Terrace, CA12,55913131.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Leeds, AL12,555964.4%
      Bedford, OH12,5558614.1%
      Mandeville, LA12,56711110.8%
      Gulf Shores, AL12,5501066.3%
      Vinings, GA12,54613838.0%
      Grand Terrace, CA12,55913131.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.