F
63%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
175%
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 Los Osos California National
Cost of living163140100
Goods & Services105111100
Groceries107112100
Health care93109100
Housing275196100
Transportation127126100
Utilities157127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Los Osos, CA

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Los Osos is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Los Osos is 163, which is 63% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Los Osos 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, Los Osos falls within this bracket.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Los Osos, 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 174.7% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Is Los Osos Affordable?

Is Los Osos 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 Los Osos, the median home price is 220.3% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 68.2% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Los Osos boasting a median household income of $81,707, 47.7% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Los Osos?

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 Los Osos, the healthcare costs are 6.6% lower than the national average.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Los Osos, the utilities index registers at 56.6% higher than the national average.

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Los Osos, is 174.7% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Los Osos displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Los Osos is 17% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Los Osos is 63% higher than the national average
  • Los Osos housing is 175% 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 Los Osos

See all the best places to live around Los Osos

Compare Los Osos, 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$89,465$7,455$2,087$2,684
      Renters$57,647$4,804$1,345$1,730
      The affordability of the housing market in Los Osos, CA as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Los Osos homeowners, the median income is $89,465. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $2,087 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $57,647. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,345 for their rent related monthly 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% 12.3%

      Goods & Services

      Item Los Osos 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 Los Osos 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 Los Osos 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 Los Osos National avg. Difference
      Home Price $591,600.00$184,700.00220.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $5,847.37$2,346.69149.2%
      Apartment Rent $1,596.00$949.0068.2%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Los Osos 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.
      Oceano, CA7,60113737.3%
      Santa Margarita, CA1,02514443.7%
      Atascadero, CA30,44415454.4%
      Grover Beach, CA13,48115656.1%
      Arroyo Grande, CA17,92416564.6%
      Los Osos, CA16,17416362.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Murraysville, NC16,1741044.4%
      Waxhaw, NC16,16512322.9%
      Aurora, OH16,16511414.1%
      Kaukauna, WI16,165927.5%
      Kings Park, NY16,15314545.5%
      Los Osos, CA16,17416362.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.