F
51%
Overall NAT. AVG.
10%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
125%
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 Auburn California National
Cost of living151143100
Goods & Services110115100
Groceries105108100
Health care106103100
Housing225197100
Transportation134136100
Utilities163144100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Auburn, CA

Understanding the cost of living in Auburn 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 Auburn cost of living index is 151, which is 51% 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.

The cost of living in Auburn is among the highest in the country, making it a very expensive place to live. Only a small fraction of regions boast a cost of living that is at least 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Auburn falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Auburn, 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 125.2% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Is Auburn Affordable?

Is Auburn an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Auburn, the median home price is 169.2% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 22.7% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Auburn come in at $98,964, which is 21.7% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Auburn?

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 Auburn, healthcare costs are 6.2% higher than the national average.

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Auburn, the housing index is 125.2% 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 Auburn, the transportation index stands at 34.1% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Auburn 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. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Auburn is 6% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Auburn is 51% higher than the national average
  • Auburn housing is 125% 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 Auburn

See all the best places to live around Auburn

Compare Auburn, CA Cost of Living

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      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$143,155$11,930$3,340$4,295
      Renters$55,864$4,655$1,303$1,676
      The affordability of the housing market in Auburn, 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 Auburn homeowners, the median income is $143,155. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $3,340 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $55,864. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,303 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% 13.3%

      Goods & Services

      Item Auburn National avg. Difference
      Haircut $40.90$27.6248.1%
      Beauty Salon $67.22$51.1131.5%
      Toothpaste $4.07$4.090.6%
      Shampoo $1.99$1.5429.1%
      Movie $15.54$12.8820.7%
      Yoga $23.00$19.6617.0%

      Groceries

      Item Auburn National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $8.05$7.704.5%
      Fried Chicken $2.54$1.6652.8%
      Milk $5.07$4.737.1%
      Potatoes $4.85$5.267.7%
      Pizza $15.44$12.7621.0%
      Beer $10.92$10.553.5%

      Health Care

      Item Auburn National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $163.40$140.0616.7%
      Doctor $205.44$153.8233.6%
      Dentist $118.00$123.154.2%
      Ibuprofen $11.93$11.731.7%
      Lipitor $20.33$23.6113.9%

      Housing

      Item Auburn National avg. Difference
      Home Price $879,154.00$326,622.00169.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,360.11$2,480.2535.5%
      Apartment Rent $1,772.00$1,444.0022.7%

      Transportation

      Item Auburn National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.47$3.0646.2%
      Tire Balancing $68.32$65.214.8%

      Utilities

      Item Auburn National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $446.59$220.12102.9%
      Phone $193.21$195.711.3%
      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.
      Cold Springs CDP (Tuolumne County), CA12812019.8%
      Cold Springs, CA698990.7%
      Colfax, CA2,30312727.0%
      Sheridan, CA1,14312827.5%
      Foothill Farms, CA36,97712827.9%
      Auburn, CA14,42815151.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Red Bluff, CA14,43211211.9%
      Youngsville, LA14,4391066.3%
      Wixom, MI14,4391077.2%
      Athens, TN14,4148910.9%
      Oak Park, CA14,446200100.3%
      Auburn, CA14,42815151.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.