| Index | Modesto | California | National |
| Cost of living | 130 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 120 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 156 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 121 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 120 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 113 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 130 | 127 | 100 |
Understanding the cost of living in Modesto 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 Modesto cost of living index is 130, which is 30% 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 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 Modesto 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, Modesto falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs significantly influence the Modesto 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 56.4%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
The routine items you regularly buy for your home, such as cleaning supplies, personal care products, clothing basics, and kitchen essentials, make up 8% of the cost of living index. In Modesto, these items cost 12.7% more than the national average, making day-to-day living a bit more expensive.
Groceries are getting more expensive by the day and the cost of groceries makes up 13% of the overall cost of living index. In the past two years, prices have shot up by over 10%! Unfortunately, in Modesto, it's the same story – grocery costs are 12% higher than what people pay across the country.
When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 22 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Modesto. The results indicated that 36% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 64% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.
Is Modesto affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Modesto, for instance, where the median home price falls 68.1% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 29.2% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Modesto flaunting a median household income of $91,737, 12.8% higher than the national norm.
Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from 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 crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.
Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Modesto comes in at 20.6% higher than the national average.
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 Modesto, the transportation index is 20.4% higher than the national average.
The Modesto cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
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| Health care index | |
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| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $119,383 | $9,949 | $2,785 | $3,582 |
| Renters | $68,604 | $5,717 | $1,601 | $2,058 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| California | 7.25% | 10.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| California | 1% | 13.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Monterey Park Tract, CA | 304 | 114 | 14.4% |
| Cowan, CA | 486 | 114 | 14.4% |
| Westley, CA | 707 | 110 | 9.6% |
| Parklawn, CA | 1,891 | 107 | 6.8% |
| Airport, CA | 1,306 | 111 | 10.8% |
| Modesto, CA | 222,619 | 130 | 29.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Richmond, BC | 222,489 | n/a | |
| Tacoma, WA | 223,137 | 125 | 24.9% |
| Des Moines, IA | 221,968 | 91 | 8.5% |
| San Bernardino, CA | 221,910 | 124 | 23.5% |
| Enterprise, NV | 221,693 | 122 | 22.2% |
| Modesto, CA | 222,619 | 130 | 29.9% |
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