F
98%
Overall NAT. AVG.
14%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
280%
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 Walnut Creek California National
Cost of living198140100
Goods & Services114111100
Groceries117112100
Health care121109100
Housing380196100
Transportation129126100
Utilities134127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Walnut Creek, CA

Understanding the cost of living in Walnut Creek can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Walnut Creek cost of living index is 198, which is 98% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Walnut Creek is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Walnut Creek falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Walnut Creek, 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 279.9% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Recurring essentials like haircuts, toothpaste, and entertainment, from movies to gym sessions, can really add up in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Walnut Creek, you you will have to spend 14.1% more than average when compared to the typical prices for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

Groceries are getting more expensive by the day and the cost of groceries makes up 13% of the overall cost of living index. In the past two years, prices have shot up by over 10%! Unfortunately, in Walnut Creek, it's the same story – grocery costs are 17.2% higher than what people pay across the country.

Is Walnut Creek Affordable?

Is Walnut Creek 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 Walnut Creek, for instance, where the median home price falls 341.2% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 136.8% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Walnut Creek flaunting a median household income of $108,689, 96.5% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Walnut Creek?

Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, 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. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Walnut Creek, the housing index comes in at 279.9% higher than the national average.

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 Walnut Creek, the utilities index is 33.7% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Walnut Creek 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 Walnut Creek is 42% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Walnut Creek is 98% higher than the national average
  • Walnut Creek housing is 280% 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 Walnut Creek

See all the best places to live around Walnut Creek

Compare Walnut Creek, 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$122,952$10,246$2,869$3,689
      Renters$92,258$7,688$2,153$2,768
      The affordability of the housing market in Walnut Creek, 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 Walnut Creek homeowners, the median income is $122,952. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $2,869 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $92,258. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $2,153 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 Walnut Creek 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 Walnut Creek 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 Walnut Creek 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 Walnut Creek National avg. Difference
      Home Price $814,900.00$184,700.00341.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $6,553.90$2,346.69179.3%
      Apartment Rent $2,247.00$949.00136.8%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Walnut Creek 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.
      Port Costa, CA24212020.0%
      Pacheco, CA4,77511615.7%
      San Miguel CDP (San Luis Obispo County), CA2,69612928.9%
      Bay Point, CA25,37813736.8%
      El Cerrito CDP, CA5,69914039.6%
      Walnut Creek, CA69,83619898.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Passaic, NJ69,78912525.3%
      Glen Burnie, MD69,64911515.3%
      Greenville, SC69,64811616.1%
      Marysville, WA69,62913434.0%
      Lynwood, CA69,62514140.9%
      Walnut Creek, CA69,83619898.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.