F
44%
Overall NAT. AVG.
9%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
120%
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 Auburn California National
Cost of living144140100
Goods & Services109111100
Groceries108112100
Health care113109100
Housing220196100
Transportation121126100
Utilities114127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Auburn, CA

The cost of living in Auburn 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 Auburn is 144, which is 44% 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, Auburn 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, Auburn falls within this bracket.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Auburn 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 119.7% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Auburn Affordable?

Is Auburn 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 Auburn, the median home price is 160.7% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 23.9% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Auburn boasting a median household income of $67,282, 21.6% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Auburn?

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 Auburn, the groceries index registers 8.2% higher than the national average.

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 13.1% higher than the national average.

Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Auburn, the housing index stands at 119.7% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Auburn cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Auburn is 3% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Auburn is 44% higher than the national average
  • Auburn housing is 120% 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 Auburn

See all the best places to live around Auburn

Compare Auburn, CA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

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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$96,700$8,058$2,256$2,901
      Renters$37,500$3,125$875$1,125
      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 $96,700. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $2,256 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $37,500. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $875 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 Auburn National avg. Difference
      Haircut $40.00$24.2664.9%
      Beauty Salon $60.53$45.5632.8%
      Toothpaste $3.67$3.701.0%
      Shampoo $1.44$1.2812.5%
      Movie $13.76$12.1313.4%
      Bowling $22.22$18.0023.5%

      Groceries

      Item Auburn National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.56$5.844.7%
      Fried Chicken $2.06$1.5731.0%
      Milk $4.93$4.675.5%
      Potatoes $4.69$4.935.0%
      Pizza $13.98$12.0915.7%
      Beer $10.49$10.410.8%

      Health Care

      Item Auburn National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $153.50$125.6822.1%
      Doctor $201.43$135.7848.3%
      Dentist $115.72$113.292.1%
      Ibuprofen $11.03$10.653.5%
      Lipitor $380.45$468.6018.8%

      Housing

      Item Auburn National avg. Difference
      Home Price $481,500.00$184,700.00160.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,182.68$2,346.6935.6%
      Apartment Rent $1,176.00$949.0023.9%

      Transportation

      Item Auburn National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.51$3.4630.2%
      Tire Balancing $58.67$59.922.1%

      Utilities

      Item Auburn National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $238.53$193.9923.0%
      Phone $190.81$192.250.7%
      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), CA12511211.6%
      Cold Springs, CA675936.5%
      Foothill Farms, CA35,71112121.0%
      Sheridan, CA1,12012121.1%
      Colfax, CA2,25812121.2%
      Auburn, CA14,10414444.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Willowick, OH14,1039010.5%
      Swansea, IL14,100955.1%
      Vail, AZ14,09911818.3%
      Springdale, NJ14,11112221.8%
      Covington, GA14,113982.2%
      Auburn, CA14,10414444.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.