F
18%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
27%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Madera California National
Cost of living118143100
Goods & Services106115100
Groceries99108100
Health care71103100
Housing127197100
Transportation129136100
Utilities159144100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Madera, CA

The cost of living in Madera 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 Madera is 118, which is 18% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Madera, 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 27.5% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Madera?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 5 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Madera and this is how they responded. 40% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 60% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Madera Affordable?

Wondering if Madera 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 Madera, for example, the median home price is 33.9% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 12.4% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Madera boasting a median household income of $72,645, which is 10.7% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Madera?

Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Madera, the transportation index is 29.1% 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 Madera, healthcare costs are 29.1% lower than the national average.

Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Madera, the housing index stands at 27.5% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Madera 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.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Madera is 18% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Madera is 18% higher than the national average
  • Madera housing is 27% 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 Madera

See all the best places to live around Madera

Compare Madera, 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$114,727$9,561$2,677$3,442
      Renters$54,011$4,501$1,260$1,620
      The affordability of the housing market in Madera, 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 Madera homeowners, the median income is $114,727. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $2,677 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $54,011. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,260 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 Madera National avg. Difference
      Haircut $29.65$27.627.4%
      Beauty Salon $54.85$51.117.3%
      Toothpaste $4.13$4.090.9%
      Shampoo $1.72$1.5411.5%
      Movie $9.38$12.8827.2%
      Yoga $19.97$19.661.6%

      Groceries

      Item Madera National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.64$7.700.8%
      Fried Chicken $2.52$1.6651.6%
      Milk $4.81$4.731.6%
      Potatoes $5.07$5.263.5%
      Pizza $17.01$12.7633.3%
      Beer $10.45$10.550.9%

      Health Care

      Item Madera National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $94.02$140.0632.9%
      Doctor $122.17$153.8220.6%
      Dentist $92.17$123.1525.2%
      Ibuprofen $11.62$11.731.0%
      Lipitor $10.33$23.6156.2%

      Housing

      Item Madera National avg. Difference
      Home Price $437,373.00$326,622.0033.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,364.43$2,480.254.7%
      Apartment Rent $1,623.00$1,444.0012.4%

      Transportation

      Item Madera National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.22$3.0638.0%
      Tire Balancing $70.16$65.217.6%

      Utilities

      Item Madera National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $439.61$220.1299.7%
      Phone $183.02$195.716.5%
      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.
      Fairmead, CA1,1671011.1%
      Biola, CA1,4691076.6%
      Parkwood, CA2,4621088.0%
      Chowchilla, CA19,14311313.4%
      Parksdale, CA2,83011514.6%
      Madera, CA67,33011817.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Sammamish, WA67,314208107.9%
      Rowlett, TX67,20611817.7%
      Laguna Niguel, CA67,631206105.8%
      Santa Cruz, CA67,016209109.4%
      Eastvale, CA67,68117877.7%
      Madera, CA67,33011817.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.