| Index | Fullerton | California | National |
| Cost of living | 175 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 120 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 307 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 117 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 125 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 114 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 138 | 127 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Fullerton 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 Fullerton is 175, which is 75% 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.
If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Fullerton 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, Fullerton falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.
Housing costs significantly influence the Fullerton 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 206.9%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
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 Fullerton, these everyday items will cost you 13.9% 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, Fullerton does not fare better, with grocery expenses coming in at 11.1% higher than the national average.
The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 8 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Fullerton. The feedback revealed that 38% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 63% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.
Is Fullerton an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Fullerton, the median home price is 260% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 83.1% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Fullerton come in at $125,162, which is 53.9% higher than the national average.
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 Fullerton comes in at 16.6% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.
Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Fullerton, the groceries index registers 11.1% higher than the national average.
The Fullerton cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $178,438 | $14,870 | $4,163 | $5,354 |
| Renters | $87,252 | $7,271 | $2,036 | $2,618 |
| 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. |
| Industry, CA | 269 | 137 | 37.1% |
| Montclair, CA | 41,014 | 139 | 38.5% |
| Commerce, CA | 13,066 | 139 | 38.8% |
| Bell Gardens, CA | 42,827 | 139 | 39.0% |
| Paramount, CA | 55,175 | 141 | 40.7% |
| Fullerton, CA | 146,103 | 175 | 75.2% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Murfreesboro, TN | 146,103 | 109 | 9.1% |
| Syracuse, NY | 146,063 | 95 | 4.5% |
| Dayton, OH | 145,927 | 82 | 17.9% |
| Kelowna, BC | 145,612 | n/a | |
| Pasadena, CA | 146,628 | 197 | 97.1% |
| Fullerton, CA | 146,103 | 175 | 75.2% |
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