F
24%
Overall NAT. AVG.
21%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
37%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Apple Valley California National
Cost of living124143100
Goods & Services121115100
Groceries109108100
Health care96103100
Housing137197100
Transportation138136100
Utilities109144100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Apple Valley, CA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Apple Valley? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Apple Valley stands at 124, making it 24% 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 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 Apple Valley 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, Apple Valley falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Apple Valley 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 37.1% 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, Apple Valley goods and services are 21% more expensive than the national average, leaving you with less money at the end of the month.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Apple Valley?

Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 8 residents in Apple Valley 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? 50% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 50% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.

Is Apple Valley Affordable?

Is Apple Valley 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 Apple Valley, the median home price is 48% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 11.8% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Apple Valley boasting a median household income of $83,370, 2.5% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Apple Valley?

Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Apple Valley, the groceries index is 9.3% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Apple Valley, the transportation index stands at 37.9% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Apple Valley, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 7.25%, and income tax rates kick off at 1%.

Where is the Data From?

The Apple Valley 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.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Apple Valley is 14% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Apple Valley is 24% higher than the national average
  • Apple Valley housing is 37% higher than the national average
  • California general sales tax is 42% higher than the national average
  • California state income tax is 61% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Apple Valley

See all the best places to live around Apple Valley

Compare Apple Valley, 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$108,066$9,006$2,521$3,242
      Renters$53,964$4,497$1,259$1,619
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Apple Valley 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. Apple Valley has a median income of about $108,066 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,521 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $53,964. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,259 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% 13.3%

      Goods & Services

      Item Apple Valley National avg. Difference
      Haircut $30.50$27.6210.4%
      Beauty Salon $103.42$51.11102.4%
      Toothpaste $4.01$4.092.0%
      Shampoo $1.58$1.542.5%
      Movie $19.57$12.8852.0%
      Yoga $25.22$19.6628.3%

      Groceries

      Item Apple Valley National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.52$7.702.4%
      Fried Chicken $3.59$1.66116.0%
      Milk $5.05$4.736.7%
      Potatoes $4.84$5.267.9%
      Pizza $17.09$12.7633.9%
      Beer $11.22$10.556.4%

      Health Care

      Item Apple Valley National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $164.27$140.0617.3%
      Doctor $132.64$153.8213.8%
      Dentist $133.17$123.158.1%
      Ibuprofen $12.21$11.734.1%
      Lipitor $17.86$23.6124.4%

      Housing

      Item Apple Valley National avg. Difference
      Home Price $483,376.00$326,622.0048.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $6,403.73$2,480.25158.2%
      Apartment Rent $1,615.00$1,444.0011.8%

      Transportation

      Item Apple Valley National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.48$3.0646.6%
      Tire Balancing $76.25$65.2116.9%

      Utilities

      Item Apple Valley National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $251.64$220.1214.3%
      Phone $196.21$195.710.3%
      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.
      Lucerne Valley, CA5,8371109.8%
      Adelanto, CA35,08111919.1%
      Mountain View Acres, CA3,81412222.2%
      Victorville, CA126,10412322.8%
      Hesperia, CA98,41912423.7%
      Apple Valley, CA75,21712423.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lafayette, IN75,191919.4%
      South Jordan, UT75,27813333.1%
      Flagstaff, AZ75,43312727.4%
      New Britain, CT74,9631043.8%
      Evanston, IL75,47713635.8%
      Apple Valley, CA75,21712423.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.