| Index | Fortuna | California | National |
| Cost of living | 124 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 117 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 138 | 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 Fortuna 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 Fortuna 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.
If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Fortuna may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Fortuna falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Fortuna, 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 37.9% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
Recurring household expenses such as cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, toiletries, and kitchen basics are a steady part of monthly spending and make up 8% of the cost of living index. In Fortuna, these everyday items will cost you 13.4% more than average, making it a slightly more expensive place to call home.
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, Fortuna does not fare better, with grocery expenses coming in at 10.2% higher than the national average.
Wondering if Fortuna 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 Fortuna, for example, the median home price is 55.2% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 2.6% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Fortuna boasting a median household income of $69,232, which is 14.9% lower than the national average.
Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Fortuna, the utilities index registers 20.4% higher than the national average.
Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Fortuna, the transportation index is 14.6% 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.
The Fortuna cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
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| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $97,872 | $8,156 | $2,284 | $2,936 |
| Renters | $40,210 | $3,351 | $938 | $1,206 |
| 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. |
| Redcrest, CA | 19 | 117 | 17.4% |
| Fields Landing, CA | 601 | 117 | 17.4% |
| Rio Dell, CA | 3,481 | 113 | 13.4% |
| Scotia, CA | 508 | 118 | 17.8% |
| Bayview, CA | 2,876 | 121 | 21.1% |
| Fortuna, CA | 12,532 | 124 | 23.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| James Island, SC | 12,534 | 125 | 25.4% |
| St. Andrews, MB | 12,535 | n/a | |
| Enumclaw, WA | 12,536 | 127 | 27.1% |
| Abbeville, LA | 12,525 | 85 | 14.5% |
| Tucson Estates, AZ | 12,524 | 98 | 2.1% |
| Fortuna, CA | 12,532 | 124 | 23.5% |
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