F
26%
Overall NAT. AVG.
20%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
49%
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 McKinleyville California National
Cost of living126143100
Goods & Services120115100
Groceries106108100
Health care103103100
Housing149197100
Transportation135136100
Utilities102144100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in McKinleyville, CA

Knowing the cost of living in McKinleyville allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in McKinleyville stands at 126, marking it 26% higher than the national average.

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

Housing costs are a very significant part of the McKinleyville cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 49.5% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Everyday goods and services make up 33% of the cost of living index and include things like clothing, personal hygiene products and entertainment which are a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Unfortunately, McKinleyville goods and services are 19.8% more expensive than the national average, leaving you with less money at the end of the month.

Is McKinleyville Affordable?

Wondering if McKinleyville 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 McKinleyville, for example, the median home price is 71% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 0.6% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with McKinleyville boasting a median household income of $83,029, which is 2.1% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in McKinleyville?

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.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In McKinleyville, healthcare costs are 2.6% higher than the national average.

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 McKinleyville, the groceries index is 6.2% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The McKinleyville 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. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in McKinleyville is 12% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in McKinleyville is 26% higher than the national average
  • McKinleyville housing is 49% 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 McKinleyville

See all the best places to live around McKinleyville

Compare McKinleyville, 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$99,153$8,263$2,313$2,975
      Renters$45,033$3,753$1,051$1,351
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in McKinleyville, CA, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for McKinleyville homeowners, is $99,153. This would allow for a maximum of $2,313 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $45,033 which would result in a maximum of $1,051 to be spent on rental 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 McKinleyville National avg. Difference
      Haircut $31.14$27.6212.8%
      Beauty Salon $52.71$51.113.1%
      Toothpaste $4.13$4.090.9%
      Shampoo $2.03$1.5431.6%
      Movie $14.95$12.8816.1%
      Yoga $18.19$19.667.5%

      Groceries

      Item McKinleyville National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $8.49$7.7010.2%
      Fried Chicken $2.58$1.6655.2%
      Milk $5.10$4.737.8%
      Potatoes $4.86$5.267.5%
      Pizza $16.83$12.7631.9%
      Beer $10.61$10.550.6%

      Health Care

      Item McKinleyville National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $159.86$140.0614.1%
      Doctor $134.65$153.8212.5%
      Dentist $130.52$123.156.0%
      Ibuprofen $12.08$11.733.0%
      Lipitor $24.78$23.615.0%

      Housing

      Item McKinleyville National avg. Difference
      Home Price $558,436.00$326,622.0071.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,630.00$2,480.256.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,435.00$1,444.000.6%

      Transportation

      Item McKinleyville National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.57$3.0649.5%
      Tire Balancing $65.05$65.210.2%

      Utilities

      Item McKinleyville National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $234.89$220.126.7%
      Phone $182.71$195.716.6%
      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.
      Samoa, CA21911615.5%
      Bayview, CA2,87612020.0%
      Eureka, CA27,85312323.2%
      Manila, CA79012525.5%
      Fairhaven, CA26012626.1%
      McKinleyville, CA16,97912625.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      El Segundo, CA16,972238137.7%
      Edmundston, NB16,970n/a 
      Wahiawa, HI16,98917474.3%
      Buda, TX16,99111413.9%
      Artesia, CA16,95716968.7%
      McKinleyville, CA16,97912625.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.