| Index | Eureka | California | National |
| Cost of living | 124 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 117 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 140 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 120 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 123 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 113 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 131 | 127 | 100 |
The cost of living in Eureka 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 Eureka is 124, which is 24% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
The cost of living in Eureka is among the highest in the country, making it a very expensive place to live. Only a small fraction of regions boast a cost of living that is at least 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Eureka falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.
Housing costs significantly influence the Eureka 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 40.5%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
The routine items you regularly buy for your home, such as cleaning supplies, personal care products, clothing basics, and kitchen essentials, make up 8% of the cost of living index. In Eureka, these items cost 13.4% more than the national average, making day-to-day living a bit more expensive.
The surge in grocery costs is indeed alarming, especially when groceries make up a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Over the past two years, there has been an inflation of over 10% in grocery prices. Unfortunately, Eureka does not fare better, with grocery expenses coming in at 10.2% higher than the national average.
The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 20 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Eureka. The feedback revealed that 40% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 60% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.
Is Eureka 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 Eureka, for instance, where the median home price falls 58.6% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 1.9% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Eureka flaunting a median household income of $65,605, 19.3% lower than the national norm.
Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Eureka, the utilities index registers at 20.4% 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 Eureka, healthcare costs are 17.4% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum 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 farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.
The cost of living data for Eureka shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
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| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
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| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $91,297 | $7,608 | $2,130 | $2,739 |
| Renters | $47,618 | $3,968 | $1,111 | $1,429 |
| 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. |
| Fields Landing, CA | 601 | 117 | 17.4% |
| Samoa, CA | 219 | 117 | 16.6% |
| Bayview, CA | 2,876 | 121 | 21.1% |
| Fortuna, CA | 12,532 | 124 | 23.5% |
| Manila, CA | 790 | 127 | 26.5% |
| Eureka, CA | 27,853 | 124 | 24.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Ilchester, MD | 27,850 | 138 | 38.2% |
| Statesville, NC | 27,848 | 96 | 4.0% |
| Elmira, NY | 27,860 | 91 | 8.9% |
| Wilmette, IL | 27,840 | 162 | 61.9% |
| Mason City, IA | 27,815 | 87 | 13.2% |
| Eureka, CA | 27,853 | 124 | 24.3% |
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