F
58%
Overall NAT. AVG.
13%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
161%
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 Oceanside California National
Cost of living158140100
Goods & Services113111100
Groceries116112100
Health care105109100
Housing261196100
Transportation127126100
Utilities107127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Oceanside, CA

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Oceanside 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 Oceanside is 158, which is 58% 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 value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Oceanside may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Oceanside falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Oceanside cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 161% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Everyday goods and services make up 33% of the cost of living index and include things like clothing, personal hygiene products and entertainment which are a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Unfortunately, Oceanside goods and services are 12.6% more expensive than the national average, leaving you with less money at the end of the month.

The surge in grocery costs is indeed alarming, especially when groceries make up a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Over the past two years, there has been an inflation of over 10% in grocery prices. Unfortunately, Oceanside does not fare better, with grocery expenses coming in at 15.6% higher than the national average.

Is Oceanside Affordable?

Is Oceanside 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 Oceanside is 191.4% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 90% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Oceanside has a median household income of $75,411, which is 36.3% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Oceanside?

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 Oceanside, the housing index is 161% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Oceanside, healthcare costs are 5% 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.

Where is the Data From?

The Oceanside 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 Oceanside is 13% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Oceanside is 58% higher than the national average
  • Oceanside housing is 161% 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 Oceanside

See all the best places to live around Oceanside

Compare Oceanside, 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$93,474$7,790$2,181$2,805
      Renters$58,129$4,844$1,356$1,744
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Oceanside 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. Oceanside has a median income of about $93,474 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,181 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $58,129. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,356 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 Oceanside National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.92$24.2610.9%
      Beauty Salon $65.77$45.5644.3%
      Toothpaste $3.73$3.700.7%
      Shampoo $1.50$1.2817.1%
      Movie $16.89$12.1339.2%
      Bowling $24.67$18.0037.1%

      Groceries

      Item Oceanside National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.47$5.846.3%
      Fried Chicken $3.05$1.5793.7%
      Milk $4.98$4.676.5%
      Potatoes $4.94$4.930.0%
      Pizza $14.69$12.0921.5%
      Beer $11.25$10.418.1%

      Health Care

      Item Oceanside National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $138.66$125.6810.3%
      Doctor $132.50$135.782.4%
      Dentist $121.37$113.297.1%
      Ibuprofen $12.01$10.6512.7%
      Lipitor $508.17$468.608.4%

      Housing

      Item Oceanside National avg. Difference
      Home Price $538,200.00$184,700.00191.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $5,168.91$2,346.69120.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,803.00$949.0090.0%

      Transportation

      Item Oceanside National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.68$3.4635.1%
      Tire Balancing $64.40$59.927.5%

      Utilities

      Item Oceanside National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $223.42$193.9915.2%
      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.
      Camp Pendleton North, CA7,88513736.8%
      Rainbow, CA2,21115151.4%
      Vista, CA100,65915353.5%
      Fallbrook, CA32,35915555.3%
      Camp Pendleton South, CA16,61815757.3%
      Oceanside, CA175,69415858.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Oshawa, ON176,009n/a 
      Elk Grove, CA173,37014444.2%
      Rancho Cucamonga, CA178,06015453.6%
      Ontario, CA178,19413938.6%
      Santa Rosa, CA178,39116968.6%
      Oceanside, CA175,69415858.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.