F
30%
Overall NAT. AVG.
12%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
76%
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 El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County) California National
Cost of living130140100
Goods & Services112111100
Groceries113112100
Health care99109100
Housing176196100
Transportation124126100
Utilities94127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County), CA

Knowing the cost of living in El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County) 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 El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County) stands at 130, marking it 30% higher than the national average.

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 El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County) 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, El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County) falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs significantly influence the El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County) 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 75.5%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

Goods and services make up 33% of the total cost of living index score and are a large part of your everyday expenses. These items could include things like haircuts, salons, toothpaste, shampoo, clothes, movies, bowling, gym memberships or yoga. In El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County), you can expect to pay 12% more than average for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

Groceries are getting more expensive by the day and the cost of groceries makes up 13% of the overall cost of living index. In the past two years, prices have shot up by over 10%! Unfortunately, in El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County), it's the same story – grocery costs are 13.1% higher than what people pay across the country.

Is El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County) Affordable?

Is El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County) 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 El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County), the median home price is 89.7% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 42.5% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County) boasting a median household income of $67,175, 21.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County)?

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County), the housing index comes in at 75.5% higher than the national average.

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County), the transportation index is 23.9% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County) displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

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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$76,214$6,351$1,778$2,287
      Renters$50,105$4,175$1,169$1,503
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County), CA, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County) homeowners, is $76,214. This would allow for a maximum of $1,778 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $50,105 which would result in a maximum of $1,169 to be spent on rental 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 El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County) National avg. Difference
      Haircut $27.27$24.2612.4%
      Beauty Salon $41.78$45.568.3%
      Toothpaste $3.61$3.702.6%
      Shampoo $1.34$1.284.9%
      Movie $11.04$12.139.0%
      Bowling $21.11$18.0017.3%

      Groceries

      Item El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County) National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.89$5.840.8%
      Fried Chicken $3.49$1.57121.9%
      Milk $4.92$4.675.4%
      Potatoes $4.92$4.930.3%
      Pizza $15.31$12.0926.6%
      Beer $10.26$10.411.4%

      Health Care

      Item El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County) National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $112.92$125.6810.2%
      Doctor $95.50$135.7829.7%
      Dentist $117.28$113.293.5%
      Ibuprofen $10.58$10.650.7%
      Lipitor $521.17$468.6011.2%

      Housing

      Item El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County) National avg. Difference
      Home Price $350,400.00$184,700.0089.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,441.43$2,346.694.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,352.00$949.0042.5%

      Transportation

      Item El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County) National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.75$3.4637.3%
      Tire Balancing $61.38$59.922.4%

      Utilities

      Item El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County) National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $378.97$193.9995.4%
      Phone $180.31$192.256.2%
      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.
      Good Hope, CA8,43111413.7%
      Warm Springs, CA1,44511414.4%
      Meadowbrook, CA4,20811515.2%
      Mead Valley, CA20,81712121.4%
      Colton, CA54,21512222.2%
      El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County), CA12,96313030.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Forest Hill, TX12,964963.6%
      Greenwich, CT12,967235135.0%
      Lynnfield, MA12,96818080.3%
      Claremont, NH12,9691066.0%
      Oakland, NJ12,95313939.0%
      El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County), CA12,96313030.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.