An Overview of Cost of Living in Vallejo, CA
Knowing the cost of living in Vallejo allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Vallejo stands at 145, marking it 45% higher than the national average.
If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Vallejo 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, Vallejo falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Vallejo, 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 104.7% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
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 Vallejo, you can expect to pay 14.1% more than average for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.
The cost of groceries continues to rise at an alarming rate. Over the last two years, grocery prices have increased by more than 10%! Unfortunately, in Vallejo, the news isn't any better as grocery prices are 17.2% higher than the national average.
What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Vallejo?
Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 14 residents in Vallejo to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 57% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 43% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.
Is Vallejo Affordable?
Is Vallejo 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 Vallejo, for instance, where the median home price falls 119.1% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 71.1% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Vallejo flaunting a median household income of $73,869, 33.5% higher than the national norm.
What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Vallejo?
Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Vallejo, the groceries index registers 17.2% higher than the national average.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Vallejo, the transportation index is 29.2% higher than the national average.
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.
Where is the Data From?
The Vallejo 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.
Here are the best places to live in California
10 best cities to buy a new house in California
See the best places to live in & around Vallejo
Top 10 best public schools in Vallejo