| Index | Ashland | Oregon | National |
| Cost of living | 140 | 111 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 104 | 100 |
| Health care | 108 | 105 | 100 |
| Housing | 215 | 124 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 106 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 106 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 107 | 107 | 100 |
| Household Items | 107 | 104 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 111 | 109 | 100 |

The cost of living in Ashland affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Ashland is 140, which is 40% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Ashland may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Ashland falls within this bracket.
Housing costs significantly influence the Ashland 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 115.4%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 10 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Ashland and this is how they responded. 30% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 70% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is Ashland 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 Ashland is 158.7% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 14.4% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Ashland has a median household income of $85,942, which is 5.7% higher than the national average.
Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Ashland, the transportation index is 4% 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 Ashland, the utilities index is 7.9% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Ashland, healthcare costs are 7.6% higher than the national average.
The Ashland cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $130,395 | $10,866 | $3,042 | $3,912 |
| Renters | $47,106 | $3,926 | $1,099 | $1,413 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Oregon | 0% | 0% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Oregon | 4.75% | 9.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Phoenix, OR | 4,796 | 106 | 6.1% |
| Talent, OR | 6,797 | 112 | 11.7% |
| Medford, OR | 84,271 | 117 | 17.0% |
| Central Point, OR | 19,057 | 118 | 18.3% |
| Jacksonville, OR | 2,946 | 137 | 37.4% |
| Ashland, OR | 21,633 | 140 | 39.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Florida Ridge, FL | 21,634 | 102 | 1.8% |
| Sun Valley, NV | 21,634 | 104 | 3.7% |
| Lakeside, CA | 21,636 | 146 | 45.9% |
| Brambleton, VA | 21,606 | 165 | 65.2% |
| South Milwaukee, WI | 21,661 | 96 | 3.9% |
| Ashland, OR | 21,633 | 140 | 39.6% |