F
36%
Overall NAT. AVG.
16%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
84%
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 Compton California National
Cost of living136140100
Goods & Services116111100
Groceries112112100
Health care108109100
Housing184196100
Transportation124126100
Utilities112127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Compton, CA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Compton? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Compton stands at 136, making it 36% 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 Compton 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, Compton falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Compton, 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 84.4% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Recurring essentials like haircuts, toothpaste, and entertainment, from movies to gym sessions, can really add up in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Compton, you you will have to spend 16.2% more than average when compared to the typical prices for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

The substantial and relentless rise in grocery prices definitely warrants some attention. Over the past two years, grocery expenses have escalated by more than 10%. Having said that, the situation in Compton is even less favorable, with grocery prices here being 12.2% higher than the national average.

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

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 25 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Compton. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 48% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 52% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Compton Affordable?

Is Compton 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 Compton, for instance, where the median home price falls 107.6% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 30.2% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Compton flaunting a median household income of $58,703, 6.1% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Compton?

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Compton, the groceries index is 12.2% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Compton, healthcare costs are 7.9% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Compton, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Compton is 2% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Compton is 36% higher than the national average
  • Compton housing is 84% 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 Compton

See all the best places to live around Compton

Compare Compton, 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$72,670$6,056$1,696$2,180
      Renters$37,364$3,114$872$1,121
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Compton, CA, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Compton, homeowners have a median income of $72,670. Using that number, a maximum of $1,696 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $37,364, which means there is a maximum of $872 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 Compton National avg. Difference
      Haircut $24.67$24.261.7%
      Beauty Salon $49.33$45.568.3%
      Toothpaste $3.76$3.701.5%
      Shampoo $1.41$1.289.8%
      Movie $13.46$12.1311.0%
      Bowling $19.07$18.006.0%

      Groceries

      Item Compton National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.26$5.847.2%
      Fried Chicken $2.08$1.5732.2%
      Milk $4.76$4.671.9%
      Potatoes $4.94$4.930.2%
      Pizza $16.13$12.0933.5%
      Beer $9.60$10.417.8%

      Health Care

      Item Compton National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $129.09$125.682.7%
      Doctor $119.86$135.7811.7%
      Dentist $108.07$113.294.6%
      Ibuprofen $10.36$10.652.7%
      Lipitor $505.41$468.607.9%

      Housing

      Item Compton National avg. Difference
      Home Price $383,500.00$184,700.00107.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,799.02$2,346.6919.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,236.00$949.0030.2%

      Transportation

      Item Compton National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.47$3.4629.3%
      Tire Balancing $58.33$59.922.6%

      Utilities

      Item Compton National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $326.49$193.9968.3%
      Phone $182.78$192.254.9%
      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.
      Westside, CA21311615.6%
      Vernon, CA24811717.0%
      Willowbrook, CA24,40113333.3%
      Rolling Hills CDP, CA83213433.9%
      Florence-Graham, CA64,78713736.5%
      Compton, CA95,80413636.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Riverview, FL95,8491077.0%
      Longmont, CO95,86412928.6%
      Brockton, MA95,74012726.6%
      Chilliwack, BC95,663n/a 
      Mission Viejo, CA95,63818382.7%
      Compton, CA95,80413636.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.