F
17%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
17%
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 Exeter California National
Cost of living117143100
Goods & Services106115100
Groceries106108100
Health care86103100
Housing117197100
Transportation125136100
Utilities175144100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Exeter, CA

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Exeter is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Exeter is 117, which is 17% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

Is Exeter Affordable?

Wondering if Exeter is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Exeter, for example, the median home price is 23.8% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 0% equal to the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Exeter boasting a median household income of $71,363, which is 12.3% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Exeter?

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Exeter comes in at 75.4% 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 Exeter, the groceries index is 5.5% higher than the national average.

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 Exeter, the housing index comes in at 16.6% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Exeter cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Exeter is 18% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Exeter is 17% higher than the national average
  • Exeter housing is 17% 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 Exeter

See all the best places to live around Exeter

Compare Exeter, CA Cost of Living

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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$99,021$8,252$2,310$2,971
      Renters$47,283$3,940$1,103$1,419
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Exeter, CA, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Exeter have a median income of $99,021. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $2,310 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $47,283, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $1,103.

      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 Exeter National avg. Difference
      Haircut $29.67$27.627.4%
      Beauty Salon $58.73$51.1114.9%
      Toothpaste $3.97$4.093.0%
      Shampoo $1.48$1.544.0%
      Movie $12.85$12.880.2%
      Yoga $20.52$19.664.4%

      Groceries

      Item Exeter National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $8.09$7.705.0%
      Fried Chicken $3.53$1.66112.4%
      Milk $5.06$4.736.9%
      Potatoes $4.85$5.267.7%
      Pizza $16.07$12.7625.9%
      Beer $10.55$10.550.0%

      Health Care

      Item Exeter National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $144.91$140.063.5%
      Doctor $104.66$153.8232.0%
      Dentist $114.22$123.157.3%
      Ibuprofen $11.68$11.730.4%
      Lipitor $19.05$23.6119.3%

      Housing

      Item Exeter National avg. Difference
      Home Price $404,229.00$326,622.0023.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,404.22$2,480.253.1%
      Apartment Rent $1,444.00$1,444.00 

      Transportation

      Item Exeter National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.94$3.0628.8%
      Tire Balancing $74.52$65.2114.3%

      Utilities

      Item Exeter National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $496.89$220.12125.7%
      Phone $182.71$195.716.6%
      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.
      Monson, CA21511717.1%
      Tonyville, CA24211717.1%
      El Rancho, CA011717.1%
      Plainview, CA634972.9%
      Linnell Camp, CA854982.1%
      Exeter, CA10,75211717.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Frederick, CO10,75013434.3%
      Cusseta-Chattahoochee County, GA10,750928.0%
      Silverton, OR10,75012323.5%
      Vernal, UT10,754964.2%
      Waterloo, IL10,746964.1%
      Exeter, CA10,75211717.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.