F
82%
Overall NAT. AVG.
8%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
233%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
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 Gilroy California National
Cost of living182140100
Goods & Services108111100
Groceries115112100
Health care123109100
Housing333196100
Transportation130126100
Utilities132127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Gilroy, CA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Gilroy? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Gilroy stands at 182, making it 82% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

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 Gilroy 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, Gilroy falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs significantly influence the Gilroy 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 233%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

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, Gilroy does not fare better, with grocery expenses coming in at 14.5% higher than the national average.

Is Gilroy Affordable?

Is Gilroy 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 Gilroy, the median home price is 288.6% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 103.3% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Gilroy boasting a median household income of $107,729, 94.7% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Gilroy?

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Gilroy, the groceries index is 14.5% higher than the national average.

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.

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 Gilroy, the transportation index is 30.4% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Gilroy, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Gilroy is 30% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Gilroy is 82% higher than the national average
  • Gilroy housing is 233% 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 Gilroy

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Compare Gilroy, CA Cost of Living

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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$133,988$11,166$3,126$4,020
      Renters$61,599$5,133$1,437$1,848
      The affordability of the housing market in Gilroy, CA as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Gilroy homeowners, the median income is $133,988. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $3,126 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $61,599. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,437 for their rent related monthly 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 Gilroy National avg. Difference
      Haircut $33.94$24.2639.9%
      Beauty Salon $48.51$45.566.5%
      Toothpaste $3.72$3.700.4%
      Shampoo $1.66$1.2829.9%
      Movie $13.31$12.139.7%
      Bowling $33.30$18.0085.0%

      Groceries

      Item Gilroy National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.79$5.840.8%
      Fried Chicken $2.13$1.5735.7%
      Milk $5.05$4.678.2%
      Potatoes $4.77$4.933.4%
      Pizza $14.92$12.0923.5%
      Beer $10.99$10.415.6%

      Health Care

      Item Gilroy National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $158.95$125.6826.5%
      Doctor $194.05$135.7842.9%
      Dentist $147.78$113.2930.4%
      Ibuprofen $11.51$10.658.1%
      Lipitor $390.15$468.6016.7%

      Housing

      Item Gilroy National avg. Difference
      Home Price $717,800.00$184,700.00288.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $8,581.10$2,346.69265.7%
      Apartment Rent $1,929.00$949.00103.3%

      Transportation

      Item Gilroy National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.81$3.4638.9%
      Tire Balancing $65.62$59.929.5%

      Utilities

      Item Gilroy National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $294.74$193.9951.9%
      Phone $190.07$192.251.1%
      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.
      Moss Landing, CA3111716.8%
      Pajaro, CA3,50914242.2%
      Freedom, CA3,95914848.2%
      Watsonville, CA52,39815352.9%
      Elkhorn, CA99815454.1%
      Gilroy, CA55,22718281.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Apex, NC55,22012222.1%
      Carson City, NV55,24411414.5%
      Chicopee, MA55,1861055.3%
      Kettering, OH55,271945.8%
      Hempstead, NY55,15313635.8%
      Gilroy, CA55,22718281.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.