F
76%
Overall NAT. AVG.
21%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
210%
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 Claremont California National
Cost of living176143100
Goods & Services121115100
Groceries109108100
Health care96103100
Housing310197100
Transportation138136100
Utilities109144100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Claremont, CA

Knowing the cost of living in Claremont allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Claremont stands at 176, marking it 76% higher than the national average.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Claremont 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, Claremont falls within this bracket.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Claremont, 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 209.9% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

The things you purchase regularly, like clothes, haircuts, movie tickets and gym memberships, can make a big dent in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. Unfortunately in Claremont, these items will cost you 21% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Claremont?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 6 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Claremont and this is how they responded. 83% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 17% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Claremont Affordable?

Is Claremont affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Claremont, for instance, where the median home price falls 269.4% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 71.1% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Claremont flaunting a median household income of $148,231, 82.3% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Claremont?

Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In Claremont, the transportation index is 37.9% higher than the national average.

Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Claremont, the housing index is 209.9% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Larger, urban hubs brimming with ample amenities and robust employment opportunities often showcase a heightened cost of living. This surge is primarily attributed to the amplified demand for services and increased residential migration, culminating in elevated home prices and elevated rental rates. Conversely, less densely populated rural locales or regions characterized by reduced demand tend to offer a more limited array of amenities and undergo slower job market growth, ultimately yielding a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Claremont 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.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Claremont is 23% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Claremont is 76% higher than the national average
  • Claremont housing is 210% 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 Claremont

See all the best places to live around Claremont

Compare Claremont, 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$202,965$16,914$4,736$6,090
      Renters$93,010$7,751$2,170$2,791
      The affordability of the housing market in Claremont, 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 Claremont homeowners, the median income is $202,965. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $4,736 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $93,010. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $2,170 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 Claremont 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 Claremont 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 Claremont 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 Claremont National avg. Difference
      Home Price $1,206,588.00$326,622.00269.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $6,403.73$2,480.25158.2%
      Apartment Rent $2,470.00$1,444.0071.1%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Claremont 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.
      Lytle Creek, CA67113332.6%
      Industry, CA26914040.0%
      Fontana, CA220,41214140.6%
      Montclair, CA41,01414141.1%
      Jurupa Valley, CA110,86214242.2%
      Claremont, CA36,49517675.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Penticton, BC36,498n/a 
      La Porte, TX36,484972.7%
      Tooele, UT36,4701033.5%
      South Miami Heights, FL36,52211313.2%
      Temple City, CA36,53118282.3%
      Claremont, CA36,49517675.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.