An Overview of Cost of Living in La Habra, CA
Understanding the cost of living in La Habra can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The La Habra cost of living index is 159, which is 59% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.
If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, La Habra may not be your ideal choice, as it ranks among the most expensive locations in the entire United States. A very small amount of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, La Habra falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.
When it comes to the cost of living in La Habra, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 170.8% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.
Recurring goods and services expenses like haircuts, toothpaste, gym memberships and movie nights are a big part of your spending and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In La Habra, these items will cost you 12% more than what most folks pay, making it a bit more expensive to live here.
The cost of groceries continues to rise at an alarming rate. Over the last two years, grocery prices have increased by more than 10%! Unfortunately, in La Habra, the news isn't any better as grocery prices are 13.1% higher than the national average.
What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in La Habra?
The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 7 locals to get their views on the cost of living in La Habra. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 14% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 86% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.
Is La Habra Affordable?
Wondering if La Habra 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 La Habra, for example, the median home price is 212.9% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 72.7% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with La Habra boasting a median household income of $83,532, which is 51% higher than the national average.
What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in La Habra?
Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as 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 with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.
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 La Habra, the housing index comes in at 170.8% higher than the national average.
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 La Habra, the groceries index registers 13.1% higher than the national average.
Where is the Data From?
The cost of living data in La Habra displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.
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