| Index | Benicia | California | National |
| Cost of living | 168 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 115 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 294 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 119 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 108 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 126 | 127 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Benicia? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Benicia stands at 168, making it 68% 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 Benicia 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, Benicia falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs significantly influence the Benicia 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 193.9%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
Is Benicia 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 Benicia, the median home price is 231.2% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 106.9% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Benicia boasting a median household income of $161,852, 99% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.
Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Benicia, the utilities index stands at 13.1% higher than the national average.
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 Benicia, the groceries index is 8.6% higher than the national average.
The Benicia 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 | $190,074 | $15,840 | $4,435 | $5,703 |
| Renters | $92,281 | $7,690 | $2,153 | $2,769 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| California | 7.25% | 10.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| California | 1% | 13.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Port Costa, CA | 251 | 115 | 14.6% |
| Pacheco, CA | 4,956 | 111 | 11.4% |
| Green Valley CDP (Los Angeles County), CA | 1,024 | 122 | 21.6% |
| San Miguel CDP (San Luis Obispo County), CA | 2,800 | 130 | 29.5% |
| Bay Point, CA | 26,221 | 134 | 34.4% |
| Benicia, CA | 29,204 | 168 | 68.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Burton, MI | 29,181 | 85 | 14.8% |
| Oakleaf Plantation, FL | 29,179 | 116 | 15.5% |
| Greenville, TX | 29,176 | 91 | 9.2% |
| Granite City, IL | 29,235 | 83 | 16.9% |
| Melrose, MA | 29,146 | 167 | 66.8% |
| Benicia, CA | 29,204 | 168 | 68.4% |
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