F
82%
Overall NAT. AVG.
14%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
225%
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 Oakland California National
Cost of living182140100
Goods & Services114111100
Groceries117112100
Health care121109100
Housing325196100
Transportation129126100
Utilities134127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Oakland, CA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Oakland? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Oakland stands at 182, making it 82% 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 prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Oakland 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, Oakland falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs significantly influence the Oakland 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 225.3%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

Goods and services make up 33% of the total cost of living index score and are a large part of your everyday expenses. These items could include things like haircuts, salons, toothpaste, shampoo, clothes, movies, bowling, gym memberships or yoga. In Oakland, you can expect to pay 14.1% more than average for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

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 Oakland is even less favorable, with grocery prices here being 17.2% higher than the national average.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Oakland?

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 32 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Oakland. The results indicated that 16% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 84% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is Oakland Affordable?

Is Oakland an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Oakland, the median home price is 295.2% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 62.2% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Oakland come in at $80,143, which is 44.9% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Oakland?

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Oakland, the utilities index is 33.7% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum 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 farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.

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 Oakland, is 225.3% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Oakland 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 Oakland is 30% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Oakland is 82% higher than the national average
  • Oakland housing is 225% 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 Oakland

See all the best places to live around Oakland

Compare Oakland, 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$124,898$10,408$2,914$3,747
      Renters$57,431$4,786$1,340$1,723
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Oakland, CA, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Oakland, homeowners have a median income of $124,898. Using that number, a maximum of $2,914 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $57,431, which means there is a maximum of $1,340 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 Oakland National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.00$24.263.0%
      Beauty Salon $76.00$45.5666.8%
      Toothpaste $3.64$3.701.7%
      Shampoo $1.45$1.2813.5%
      Movie $16.46$12.1335.7%
      Bowling $27.22$18.0051.2%

      Groceries

      Item Oakland National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.70$5.842.3%
      Fried Chicken $3.43$1.57118.2%
      Milk $4.91$4.675.1%
      Potatoes $4.87$4.931.3%
      Pizza $13.49$12.0911.6%
      Beer $11.18$10.417.4%

      Health Care

      Item Oakland National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $137.40$125.689.3%
      Doctor $110.00$135.7819.0%
      Dentist $118.27$113.294.4%
      Ibuprofen $11.76$10.6510.4%
      Lipitor $508.17$468.608.4%

      Housing

      Item Oakland National avg. Difference
      Home Price $730,000.00$184,700.00295.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $6,553.90$2,346.69179.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,539.00$949.0062.2%

      Transportation

      Item Oakland National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.60$3.4633.0%
      Tire Balancing $60.97$59.921.7%

      Utilities

      Item Oakland National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $182.51$193.995.9%
      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.
      Strawberry CDP (Tuolumne County), CA11612524.6%
      Pacheco, CA4,77511615.7%
      San Miguel CDP (San Luis Obispo County), CA2,69612928.9%
      El Cerrito CDP, CA5,69914039.6%
      San Pablo, CA30,95914242.0%
      Oakland, CA422,57518281.6%

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      London, ON421,456n/a 
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      Laval, QC445,050n/a 
      Arlington, TX397,2691054.7%
      Oakland, CA422,57518281.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.