D-
14%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
23%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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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 Livingston California National
Cost of living114140100
Goods & Services104111100
Groceries104112100
Health care96109100
Housing123196100
Transportation120126100
Utilities140127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Livingston, CA

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Livingston 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 Livingston is 114, which is 14% 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.

Housing costs significantly influence the Livingston 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 22.7%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

Is Livingston Affordable?

Is Livingston an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Livingston is 25.1% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 17.1% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Livingston has a median household income of $58,884, which is 6.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Livingston?

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Livingston, the utilities index is 40.4% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Livingston, healthcare costs are 4.1% lower than the national average.

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Livingston, the groceries index is 3.5% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Livingston 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.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Livingston is 18% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Livingston is 14% higher than the national average
  • Livingston housing is 23% higher than the national average
  • California general sales tax is 42% higher than the national average
  • California state income tax is 56% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Livingston

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Compare Livingston, CA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      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$74,306$6,192$1,734$2,229
      Renters$47,181$3,932$1,101$1,416
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Livingston is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Livingston has a median income of about $74,306 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,734 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $47,181. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,101 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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% 12.3%

      Goods & Services

      Item Livingston National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.83$24.2610.6%
      Beauty Salon $76.57$45.5668.0%
      Toothpaste $3.86$3.704.3%
      Shampoo $1.56$1.2821.9%
      Movie $14.64$12.1320.6%
      Bowling $23.78$18.0032.1%

      Groceries

      Item Livingston National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.21$5.846.3%
      Fried Chicken $2.10$1.5733.7%
      Milk $4.99$4.676.9%
      Potatoes $4.98$4.930.9%
      Pizza $15.69$12.0929.8%
      Beer $10.96$10.415.3%

      Health Care

      Item Livingston National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $157.88$125.6825.6%
      Doctor $166.71$135.7822.8%
      Dentist $148.27$113.2930.9%
      Ibuprofen $11.69$10.659.8%
      Lipitor $498.45$468.606.4%

      Housing

      Item Livingston National avg. Difference
      Home Price $231,100.00$184,700.0025.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $4,545.90$2,346.6993.7%
      Apartment Rent $1,111.00$949.0017.1%

      Transportation

      Item Livingston National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.63$3.4633.9%
      Tire Balancing $70.51$59.9217.7%

      Utilities

      Item Livingston National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $299.78$193.9954.5%
      Phone $191.56$192.250.4%
      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.
      Stevinson, CA19611110.7%
      Cowan, CA47211110.7%
      Winton, CA11,6191065.6%
      Cressey, CA24311211.8%
      Franklin, CA7,70911212.1%
      Livingston, CA14,39211414.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Robbinsdale, MN14,3931000.3%
      Mountain View County, AB14,390n/a 
      Glasgow, KY14,3948713.2%
      East Milton, FL14,3888910.5%
      Colesville, MD14,39714141.0%
      Livingston, CA14,39211414.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.